After a “thorough internal and external” investigation and a disciplinary hearing chaired by Sbongiseni Dube, CLG has decided to terminate Zion Adeoye for serious violations of personal and professional conduct.
This process adhered to the Code of Good Practice of the Labour Relations Act, ensuring fairness, transparency, and compliance with South African law, according to CLG.
Adeoye was held accountable for several serious offences, including “making malicious and defamatory statements against colleagues, extortion, intimidation, fraud, misuse of company funds, theft and misappropriation of funds, breach of fiduciary duty, and mismanagement”.
“His actions are in direct contradiction to our firm’s core values. We do not approve of attorneys spending time in a Gentleman’s Club. CLG deeply regrets the impact this situation has had on our colleagues and continues to provide full support to those affected.
“We want to express our gratitude to those who spoke up and to reassure everyone at the firm of our unwavering commitment to maintaining a respectful workplace. Misconduct of any kind is unacceptable and will be addressed decisively.
“We recognise the seriousness of this matter and have referred it to the appropriate law enforcement, regulatory, and legal authorities in Nigeria, Mauritius, and South Africa. We kindly ask that the privacy of the third party involved be respected,” said CLG in a statement on its website.
Oneyka Cindy Ojogbo was recently appointed Managing Partner of the pan-African law firm CLG, effective January 2026.
Adeoye, until his sacking, 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.
