Partners
Meet Our Partners
Sylvester E. Elema (SAN)
Working Experience
Did the National Youth Service Corps programme in a law firm in Kano in 1985/1986 and thereafter worked as a legal practitioner in another law firm also in Kano, before establishing the law firm of Usman & Elema (Barristers & Solicitors) in Kano in 1987.
He practiced law in Kano for 10 (ten) years from 1985-1996 before le relocated to Lagos and established the Lagos Office which eventually became the head office of the law firm in 1996. He established the Port Harcourt branch office in 2002.
The Principal Partner is highly experienced and skilled in preparation and vetting of legal documents/agreements, conveyancing, civil and criminal litigation, commercial legal practice with emphasis on aviation law and practice, oil and gas legal practice, Public/Private Partnership and Privatization matters and has been active in these areas of law as a private legal practitioner for an unbroken period of 32 years now.
National Assignments
1. He was one of the resource persons assembled by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority to work on the draft Civil Aviation Bill in 2005. This Bill was later enacted as the Nigerian Civil Aviation Act 2006.
2. Held the Fiat of the Hon. Attorney General and Minister of Justice to prosecute in the Failed Banks (Recovery of Debts) and Financial Malpractices in Banks Tribunal between 1994 to 1998 in the name of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
3. Held the Fiat of the Hon. Attorney General and Minister of Justice to represent the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the Oputa Panel that was set up upon the inauguration of civilian democratic rule in 1999.
4. Held the Fiat of the Hon. Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to prosecute over 250 suspects arrested and charged before the Kano Civil Disturbances Tribunal in connection with the civil riots that led to the death of over 1000 persons in Kano in 1995.
Many of these cases were prosecuted up to the Supreme Court level.
In addition to all the above National Assignments, he has handled several private litigation matters up to the Supreme Court from 1985 till date.
Mahmoud Usman
(Northern Operations)
Working Experience
Called to the Nigerian Bar in 1985 after graduating from Bayero University Kano and Nigerian Law School, Lagos.
He is presently the partner in charge of our law firm’s Northern Operations.
He is also privately involved in oil and gas business in Nigeria and in the Sudan.
He offered his legal services and advice for several years to one of the big players in the oil and gas business in Nigeria, Oriental Energy Resources Limited.
