Centurion Law Group, a prominent pan-African legal and business advisory firm, announced the suspension of its CEO and Group Managing Partner, Zion Adeoye, on allegations of gross misconduct, stating that the action upholds the rule of law and presumption of innocence.
The suspension, announced in a statement sent to SBT Insight on Friday morning, has, however, been publicly reported on CLG’s website in October.
Adoye’s suspension will remain pending a full independent investigation.
An external firm has been engaged to ensure impartiality, and the company clarified that no findings of wrongdoing have been made against Adeoye.
“CLG as a firm believes the rule of law is supreme, including the presumption of innocence until proven otherwise,” the statement read, framing the move as a procedural necessity to facilitate an unhindered probe.
Neither Adeoye nor his representatives have issued a public response. CLG reiterated its commitment to transparency and governance standards in the release.
Adeoye, until his suspension, was responsible for Legal Affairs in Project Finance, Infrastructure, Real Estate, Taxation and Energy law. He advised a cross-section of clients across Africa on big-ticket energy deals, especially in South Sudan, Uganda, Nigeria, Zambia, Equatorial Guinea, Congo, Ghana, Gabon and Senegal.
Before joining CLG Global, Adeoye was Lead Transaction Counsel/Group Legal Counsel to the Transnational Energy Group, presiding over critical Oil & Gas and Power projects in Nigeria.
He also had pivotal spells at the Tax Division of KPMG Nigeria, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), and the Lagos-based premium legal firms of Olaniwun Ajayi LP and Templars, where he advised several multinationals on a host of Energy and Infrastructure projects.
Also, at the Abuja-based firm Terra Cotta Legal, he advised key government institutions and a host of multinationals on Energy and Taxation matters.
He was a strategic adviser during the various efforts at amending the Nigerian Petroleum Act and related legislations, including acting at one time as secretary to the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) Fiscal and Financial Management Syndicate Session commissioned by the Nigerian Federal House of Representatives and advised the Board of Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) on the fiscal aspects of the PIB.
Adeoye advised on some of the most strategic deals across Africa, especially in the frontier Energy markets, and was recently awarded a ‘40 under 40 Rising Stars’ award at the Nigerian ESQ Legal Awards, for shaping the future of the legal profession in Nigeria and on the continent.
