OUR TEAM

CEO, Centurion

NJ Ayuk JD, MBA

A leading energy lawyer and a strong advocate for African entrepreneurs, NJ Ayuk is recognized as one of the foremost figures in African business today. A Global Shaper with the World Economic Forum, one of Forbes’ Top 10 Most Influential Men in Africa in 2015, and a well-known dealmaker in the petroleum and power sectors, NJ is dedicating his career to helping entrepreneurs find success and to building the careers of young African lawyers.

As founder and CEO of Centurion Law Group, NJ strives through his work to ensure that business, and especially oil and gas, impacts African societies in a positive way and drives local content development. He is the current chairman of the African Energy Chamber and author of ‘Big Barrels: African Oil and Gas and the Quest for Prosperity’.

NJ graduated from the University of Maryland College Park and earned a Juris Doctor from William Mitchell College of Law and an MBA from the New York Institute of Technology.

Managing Director

Zion Adeoye

Zion is Managing Director at Centurion Law Group and is responsible for Legal Affairs in Project Finance, Infrastructure, Real Estate, Taxation and Energy law. He continues to advise 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 Centurion, Zion 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 multi-nationals on a host of Energy and Infrastructure projects. Also, at the Abuja based firm of Terra Cotta Legal, he advised key institutions of government 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.

Zion continues to advise on some of the most strategic deals across Africa, especially in the frontier Energy markets, and was recently awarded an ‘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. He is currently completing his MBA in International Oil and Gas Management at the University of Dundee, Scotland.

Qualifications:

• LL.B. – University of Ibadan
• B.L – Nigerian Law School, Lagos
• LL.M. — Columbia Law School

Bar Admission:

• Nigeria

Memberships:

• Nigerian Bar Association 
• Association of Independent Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN)

Chief Operating Officer

Strayson Vermeulen

Strayson is the Chief Operating Officer of Centurion Law Group. In addition to her specialization in International Business, Strayson has significant experience in Finance and Accounting, Assets Evaluation, Financial Analysis, Law Practice Development, Project Financing and Telecommunications. She garnered valuable experience working extensively in finance, accounting, audit, establish policies, compliance, business strategy, negotiation, investment, business management, financial planning and modelling, management of assets, forecasting and overseeing daily operations as an executive.

Prior to joining Centurion, she worked in a plethora of roles, including Group Accountant, Senior Accountant, Property Manager, and Operations Manager at Vodacom Business, LifeCo UnLtd SA Group, Advanced Telecoms International, Mobax South Africa and Group.

Strayson completed her Advanced Management Programme & Finance and Accounting degree at the University of Witwatersrand and obtained the Financial Evaluation Analyst certification from the Corporate Finance Institute.

Qualifications:

• B.Sc. Business Management  – University of Pretoria  
• MBA – Edinburgh Business School

Director, Equatorial Guinea

Santiago Olo Lima

With a specialization in international business, Santiago Olo Lima is the Managing Director of the firms’ Malabo office. He focuses on Government Relations and Special Projects at Centurion Law Group.

His responsibilities include working closely with the firm’s management to develop, refine and execute Centurion’s vision and development strategies. His knowledge of Equatorial Guinea’s business environment has earned him the reputation of being one of the best advisors and consultants for foreign investors entering the country.

His duties also include the implementation and maintenance of programs aimed at developing new streams of revenue growth at the firm.

Qualifications:

• American Intercontinental University in London, UK – Bachelor in International Business
• University of California, Berkeley – International Diploma in Project Management and Entrepreneurship

Director

Oneyka Cindy Ojogbo

Oneyka is a Director and Attorney at Centurion with significant finance and projects experience in Africa, Europe and North America. She leads the Group’s Sports, Media and Entertainment Practice and routinely advises governments, sponsors, lenders, multinational and local companies on a wide range of transactions, including cross-border projects that cover infrastructure, energy, investments, aviation, sports and entertainment.

She has gained significant experience working with and leading multicultural and multilingual teams in structuring and executing epoch-making deals across the African continent. Over the course of her career, Oneyka has worked extensively in research, negotiation, advisory and document preparation and review capacities on projects, corporate, finance and investment transactions of varying complexities and across multiple sectors of the economy. She has also gained experience coordinating regulatory compliance in over 30 African countries and involving local legal systems including OHADA, CEMAC, and WAEMU.

Prior to joining Centurion, she worked as an Associate in Olaniwun Ajayi, a leading Nigerian firm and played a pivotal role in advising investors and sponsors on landmark power and infrastructure transactions. She also worked with the Columbia Centre for Sustainable Investment based in New York where she advised on the peculiar provisions/terms in exploration and production contracts relating to the extractive industries in different countries around the world with the aim of helping governments, international investors and other stakeholders better understand the prevalent extractive industry investment framework.

Oneyka is passionate about the right to education, gender equality, equal representation and economic empowerment through sports and energy.

Qualifications:

• LL.B. (first class honours) – University of Ibadan, Nigeria
• BL (first class honours) – Nigerian Law School
• LL.M. – Columbia University, New York

Bar Admission:

• New York State
• Nigeria

Director, Ghana

Genevive Ocansey

Genevie is the Director of Centurion Law Group in Ghana. She is a lawyer and holds an international LLM from Temple University (Philadelphia). She graduated from the University of Ghana in 1996 with a LLB Degree and called to the Ghana Bar in 1998 after completing Ghana School of Law.

Genevive focuses on providing energy advisory and investment consultancy services, as well as on corporate transactions and providing legal advice to foreign investors and international companies entering Ghana.

Prior to joining Centurion Law Group, Genevive worked with Deleric Law Consult as a corporate and commercial attorney specializing on litigation in corporate and commercial matters. She is experienced in Ghana’s legal system and is a seasoned corporate and commercial lawyer and business consultant.

Qualifications:

• International LLM, Temple University, Philadelphia-(2016- 2017)
• Professional law Course(BL) Ghana School of law- (1996-1998)
• LLB, University of Ghana, Accra- (1992-1996)

Admission:

• Ghana

Managing Partner, Equatorial Guinea

Manuel Oliviera

Manuel Oliveira Toichoa is a Managing Partner at Centurion Equatorial Guinea.

He specializes in integral consultancy to companies. Manuel focuses on Commercial Law (OHADA Business Law among others), particularly the creation and liquidation of companies, registration and licenses, and contracts. Additionally, Manuel provides legal advice to clients in other matters related to labour and social security law, Administrative law and Tax law. Manuel has advised a wide range of local clients and international businesses entering Equatorial Guinea.

Qualifications:

• Law Degree – University of Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain
• LL.M. (Master of Laws) Corporate and Finance Law – Widener University, DE, USA (Delaware Law School)

Bar Admission:

• Equatorial Guinea

Head of Energy & Projects

Andres Vega Sanchez

Andres is an Attorney at Centurion Law Group. He leads the firms’ Energy and Projects Practice with significant experience in implementing, developing, and financing oil & gas and energy projects.

Before joining Centurion, he was a Senior Associate at the top-tier boutique energy law firm in Mexico City. In his practice, he has provided advice to key companies in the energy sector in the negotiation and implementation of structures to develop upstream oil & gas contracts, including production sharing contracts, joint operating agreements, and services agreements. Andres’ experience also includes advising clients in the financing and negotiation of security packages and the negotiation of construction agreements for different types of assets used in the development of energy projects. He has actively participated in government procurement procedures in Mexico, advising several clients in their participation, financing, and implementation of contracts with Mexico’s NOC (Pemex). Andres is a member of the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators.

Qualifications:

• LL.M. – University of California, Berkeley School of Law
• LL.B. – Universidad Iberoamericana, Mexico

Bar Admission:

• Mexico
• New York State

Director Congo – Brazzaville

Julio Makouba

Julio the Director of Centurion Law Group in Congo – Brazzaville. He is a lawyer at the Kinshasa /Matete Bar (Democratic Republic of Congo) and a Chartered Tax Expert in the six countries of the CEMAC zone (Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo-Brazzaville, Gabon Equatorial Guinea and Chad). Julio is focusing on legal and customs matters in the fields of Oil & Gas, mining, infrastructure and banking. Julio has wide experience in OHADA business Law and CEMAC legislation. For more than ten years, he has supported many investors in the Central Africa region. Prior to joining Centurion Law Group, Julio worked for leading firms across Africa, including PricewaterhouseCoopers in Cameroon and Etude du Bâtonnier Coco KAYUDI in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Qualifications:

• LL.M. (Litigation and Business Arbitration) – Catholic University of Central Africa
• LL.M. (Business Law) – University of Douala
• Masters in Applied Taxation – University of Douala

Bar Admission:

• Kinshasa/  Matete (DRC)

Tax Director

Grace Yella

Grace is Tax Director at Centurion Law Group and is responsible to design the CEMAC region tax strategy and to lead its implementation.

Prior to joining Centurion, Grace worked with KPMG Tax and Legal Cameroun where she provided advice to both local and multinational companies on various tax, legal and regulatory matters. She acquired wide-ranging experience in providing tax and regulatory compliance services, corporate tax planning, tax structuring & optimization; mergers and acquisitions; due diligence; and global mobility services for expatriates. 

She has extensive experience in advising foreign clients in their activities in Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Chad and Central African Republic.

She also obtained relevant experience during a secondment to the KPMG Nigeria practice where she worked on engagements involving clients in ENR sector and consumer markets.

Qualifications:

• BSc. Law – University of Douala (Cameroon)
• LL.M. (Business Law) – University of Douala
• Masters in Applied Taxation – University of Douala

Director South Africa

Leon van der Merwe

Leon is a practicing Attorney of the High Court of South Africa, Director of Centurion South Africa and holds several years post admission experience. He heads up the team with all matters pertaining to the South-African legislative framework. His expertise includes Corporate Law, Commercial Law, Law of Contract, General, Civil and Commercial Litigation, Insolvency, Compliance, Property Law, Regulatory Law, Competition Law, Company Law, Compliance and risk.

Drafting and negotiations of contracts, risk analysis and providing complex corporate advice to public, private and JSE listed enterprises are some of the projects Leon has worked on.

He has provided legal services to major national and international corporations in various industries, such as forestry, mining, construction, engineering and retail.

Qualifications:

• LL.B. – University of Pretoria
• Member of Legal Practice Counsel
• Member of International Bar Association
• Association of Young Arbitrators

Bar Admission:

• South Africa

Director Central Africa

Carl Mbeng

Carl is the Director of Central Africa and a seasoned legal and tax advisory service professional who has many years of experience advising governments, multinationals and indigenous African companies on business law and practice across several Central African jurisdictions.

He has a proven track record of delivering effective legal advice to clients in the banking and finance industry and in securities and has, over the years, provided insight on key issues relating to investment, Infrastructure project finance, M&A, securities & debt recovery as well as tax compliance and transfer pricing across Central Africa.

Carl has an extensive professional network across African jurisdictions and is fluent in English and French.

Qualifications:

• LL.M. (Business Law) – University of Douala, Cameroon
• LL.M. (International Disputes) – University of Douala, Cameroon
• Masters of Applied Taxation – University of Douala, Cameroon
• LL.B. – University of Yaounde II 
• Postgraduate Diploma in Business Law – University of Yaounde II