Conferred 2026 · Inner Bar of Nigeria

HakeemObafemi
AgabaSenior Advocate of Nigeria

Partner, Head of Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Chairperson of the Executive Committee at Jackson, Etti & Edu. President of IPLAN. Ranked Band 1 for Intellectual Property & TMT in Nigeria by Chambers Global.

See the recognitionA note of congratulations
Senior Advocate of Nigeria ◆ Silk of the Inner Bar ◆ Class of 2026 ◆ Senior Advocate of Nigeria ◆ Silk of the Inner Bar ◆ Class of 2026 ◆
Hakeem Obafemi Agaba, SAN, in silk robes and full-bottomed wig HOA
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The Rank

Entering the Inner Bar

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria is the highest distinction a Nigerian legal practitioner can receive. It is conferred by the Legal Practitioners' Privileges Committee on advocates of exceptional merit, integrity and standing at the Bar. Its holders are called Silks.

In 2026, Obafemi Agaba took his place among them.
0Chambers Global band
0Years Chambers ranked
0Terms as IPLAN president
0Advocates in the 2026 class
Hakeem Obafemi Agaba at the Bar, among law books Hakeem Obafemi Agaba, SAN, seated in silk robes Hakeem Obafemi Agaba, SAN, in full silk gown with arms outstretched
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I · The Outer Bar

The advocate

Litigator. Brand protector. Trusted counsel to global clients, and to the courts across Nigeria.

II · The Calling

The silk descends

The Legal Practitioners' Privileges Committee elevates 68 advocates. His name is on the list.

III · The Inner Bar

Arise, Senior Advocate

Hakeem Obafemi Agaba, SAN.

Recognition

A record the world has noticed

From the Nigerian Bar to the leading international legal directories and WIPO itself.

2026

Senior Advocate of Nigeria

Elevated by the Legal Practitioners' Privileges Committee at its 174th Plenary Session. The highest rank of the Nigerian Bar, conferred on 68 practitioners in 2026.

2026

Chambers Global: Band 1

Ranked first in Intellectual Property & TMT: Nigeria. Chambers praises his handling of copyright and trade mark infringement actions and his deep enforcement experience.

7 YEARS

Seven Years Ranked by Chambers

A sustained run in the Chambers Global Guide, three of those years in the Intellectual Property & TMT category for Nigeria.

PANEL

WIPO Panel of Neutrals

Mediator on the World Intellectual Property Organization's Panel of Neutrals, handling copyright and technology disputes.

LEADERS

WIPR Leaders

Recognised in World IP Review's Leaders, drawn from peer recognition and a credentials review across more than 80 countries.

IP STARS

Managing IP & Who's Who Legal

Consistently ranked as a leading lawyer by Chambers & Partners, Managing IP and Who's Who Legal, and named a notable IP STARS practitioner.

2020

Chambers Global Highlight

Singled out by the 2020 Chambers Global Guide for IP expertise in Nigeria.

The house he leads · Jackson, Etti & Edu

Firm-level honours. He heads its Litigation & Dispute Resolution practice and chairs its Executive Committee.

2025Managing IPEMEA Firm of the Year, Nigeria
2025WTR100Gold: Trademark Firm of the Year
2025Legal 500EMEA Top Tier Firm, Nigeria
2025IP STARSTop Tier: Copyright, Trademark, Patent, IP Transactions
2024Chambers GlobalLeading Law Firm
2024WTR1000Eight partners recognised
Leadership

The seats he holds

Brass nameplates on a long mahogany bench. Each one a responsibility entrusted to him by his peers.

President

Intellectual Property Law Association of Nigeria

IPLAN. First elected in 2021, re-elected in April 2023 for a second two-year term.

Chairperson

Executive Committee

Jackson, Etti & Edu

Head

Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Jackson, Etti & Edu. Previously led the firm's FMCG sector.

Sub-Committee Chair

Legislation & Regulation

International Trademark Association (INTA)

Mediator

WIPO Panel of Neutrals

Copyright and technology disputes

Co-mediator

Nigerian Copyright Commission

Panel of Neutrals

Contributor

Legislative frameworks

Including the Nigerian Copyright Act

Notary Public

Pro bono for justice

Supports the criminal justice system and the decongestion of correctional facilities.

Nigerian Bar AssociationINTAAnti-Counterfeiting CoalitionChartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK)
Two portraits, one advocate

The man and the silk

Drag the gold line. On one side, the partner colleagues know. On the other, the Senior Advocate the Bar now salutes.

From Lagos State University to University College London, King's College London, Harvard Law School and Oxford's Said Business School: an education that built a global advocate.

In silk
Hakeem Obafemi Agaba, Partner
PartnerSilk
Foundations

Learned in great halls

LL.BLagos State University
B.LNigerian Law School
LL.MIntellectual Property
University College London
PG DipInternational Copyright Law
King's College London
Exec.Harvard Law School
Oxford Said Business School
The Ascent

A path to silk

2020

Recognised by Chambers Global

Highlighted for intellectual property expertise at Jackson, Etti & Edu.

2021

Elected President of IPLAN

Takes the helm of the Intellectual Property Law Association of Nigeria. Also listed among WIPR's Leaders for Nigeria.

April 2023

Re-elected for a second term

IPLAN's members return him as president for another two years.

2026 · Chambers Global

Band 1, Intellectual Property & TMT

Ranked first in Nigeria, with seven years of Chambers ranking behind him.

23 July 2026

Approved by the LPPC

Elevated at the 174th Plenary Session of the Legal Practitioners' Privileges Committee, number 24 of 68 names.

October 2026

Senior Advocate of Nigeria

The Inner Bar. A new chapter, built on a career already ranked at the very top.

Practice

Where he commands the room

A litigator first. He manages many court cases across Nigeria at once, and peers say he thinks on his feet and lays out every side of the coin.

I

Intellectual Property

Copyright and trade mark infringement actions, anti-counterfeiting campaigns and IP policy.

II

Brand Protection

Began in general commercial litigation and became a recognised brand protection specialist.

III

Commercial Litigation

Oil & gas, labour & employment, construction, debt recovery, insolvency and regulatory compliance.

IV

Technology

Advises global clients in new and social media and FinTech on litigation and regulatory matters.

Consumer goodsPharmaceuticalsTechnologyPublic sector
The Library

Insights from the bench

Recent writing and case commentary from his practice. Hover a spine, then open the article.

Explore the full body of work

In their words

What peers say

“Obafemi Agaba is very renowned and good in the litigation aspects of IP.”Peer source, Chambers Global Guide
“Obafemi Agaba thinks on his feet and, typical of a litigator, he gives you all sides of the coin.”Peer source, Chambers Global Guide
“Praised for his handling of copyright and trade mark infringement actions.”Chambers Global editorial
Congratulations

Silk,
well deserved.

This page is a gift to mark your conferment as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. A career of rigour, craft and integrity has earned its place at the Inner Bar.

Congratulations Hakeem Obafemi Agaba, SAN, on your conferment as Senior Advocate of Nigeria
With admiration, on the occasion of your conferment.