Qualifications and Experience

• Minimum of 10 years’ experience in a legal role, preferably within financial services, banking, or a regulated environment.
  

• Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or equivalent legal qualification (LLM would be an added advantage).
  

• Admission to the Nigerian Bar as a Solicitor and Advocate.
  

• Strong knowledge of regulatory frameworks, governance, and legal risk management.
  

• Experience advising on transactions, products, and business initiatives.
  

Legal Advisory & Risk Management

• Provide timely, accurate, and pragmatic legal advice to business stakeholders on transactions, products, and operational matters.
  

• Ensure compliance, in both letter and spirit, with all applicable laws and regulations, including company law, securities regulation, AML, CFT, and sanctions.
  

• Proactively identify, assess, and manage legal risks at a country and business level, ensuring appropriate controls and mitigation strategies are in place.
  

Governance, Compliance & Regulatory Engagement

• Support the implementation and adherence to Group legal and risk policies, ensuring consistent application within the country.
  

• Partner closely with Risk and Compliance to strengthen legal governance and control frameworks.
  

• Engage proactively with regulators and internal governance forums to support regulatory trust, transparency, and ethical conduct.
  

Transactional & Product Support

• Provide legal support for transactions, products, and initiatives, ensuring risks are identified and managed appropriately.
  

• Support internal product development through the relevant product approval processes.
  

• Apply deep technical knowledge of business products to anticipate legal implications and advise the business accordingly.
  

External Counsel & Cost Management

• Manage relationships with external legal counsel, including instructing, negotiating fees, and monitoring performance.
  

• Drive cost discipline by reducing reliance on external counsel through the development of strong internal legal capability.
  

People, Capability & Stakeholder Management

• Provide leadership within the Legal team, promoting a culture of legal awareness and proactive risk management across the business.
  

• Develop and maintain a legal training plan for the Legal team and key stakeholders.
  

• Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders.