Seun Ashamu

Temilolu N. ‘Seun Ashamu is a lawyer trained in the United Kingdom and Nigeria.

He has over 15-years solid industry experience having been involved in negotiating, structuring and advising in complex multilateral transactions in the areas of foreign investments, energy, mining, corporate finance, taxation and real estate among others types of commercial transactions. Temilolu also has experience arbitrating and litigating a number of multilateral disputes.

Temilolu attended Eltham College; the University of Kent, graduating with an LL.B. (Hons.) degree; and, obtained a Masters of Law degree from University College London (UCL), University of London. He also attended BPP Law School (UK) and the Nigerian Law School. He is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Law Society, UK and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), UK.

He has had cause to engage the House of Lords (now Supreme Court), the Privy Council and also appear before other courts of record in the UK. He was an Ambassador of Kent Law School, speaking to less privileged and ethnic minority potential students about higher education and the study of law. He is also the recipient of the (late) Duke of Edinburgh award, in recognition of his leadership and service to the community in the UK.

Temilolu cut his teeth in arbitral proceedings in Nigeria where he was involved in a matter involving the Federal Government of Nigeria leading to an award of approximately N52 billion in favour of the client. He regularly advised local and international clients on diverse aspects of Nigerian law and has represented firms operating in the capital market in various margin trading disputes involving billions of Naira before all Superior Courts in Nigeria, as well as other tribunals and was also involved in the negotiation of very complex commercial transactions on their behalf. Temilolu has also been part of teams that successfully defended electoral returns in Nigeria at the Election Petition Tribunal, the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.

He has served as Company Secretary and on Boards of Sovereign owned companies where he has overseen a number of projects and been involved in complex investment negotiations. Temilolu has structured multi-layer Investment Transactions, drafted and reviewed Development Agreements and Legal Opinions in areas of power, real estate construction, finance and compliance. He has also sat on the Boards of a number of Private companies, that have various interests in Nigeria and the UK.

Temilolu was nominated by The Executive Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency ‘Seyi Makinde, FNSE, as a Honourable Commissioner and sworn in as the pioneer Commissioner for Energy & Mineral Resources in Oyo State on 15 August 2019.

As Commissioner he has structured and overseen the development and deployment of over 200km of LED public lighting infrastructure, the development of Oyo State’s first Independent Power Project (11MW) and renewable energy solutions to about 50 rural communities and health centres in the state. He has also overseen the development of the State’s gas infrastructure masterplan.

Temilolu is avid footballer, tennis and rugby player and enjoys travelling.