Dr Okonmah attended the University of Benin, Nigeria from 1986 – 1990, where he obtained the Bachelor of Laws Degree in Second Class Honours (Upper Division) in 1990 and was called to the Nigerian Bar and enrolled as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria on 10 December 1991. He was later appointed a lecturer at the Faculty of Law of the University of Benin, where he taught various courses including Contract and Commercial law, Constitutional and Human Rights Law between November 1991 and September 1994. At the same time he practised as an attorney and regularly appeared at the High Court and the Federal High Court in Benin City. Whilst lecturing in Benin, Patrick enrolled and graduated Master of Laws (LLM) in Comparative Law from the University of Lagos in 1994 before he was awarded a commonwealth scholarship for postgraduate studies in the United Kingdom. He attended the London School of Economics, University of London where he obtained a second Master of Laws degree (LLM) in Environmental Law in 1995 and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth in 2011. He was enrolled as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales on 1 July 1999.

Patrick has practiced in a number of law firms in London and represented clients in superior courts of Record in England and Wales. He has handled or involved in a number of Commercial and Property litigation in the County Courts, High Court and the Court of Appeal in England and made regular appearances at Immigration and Employment Tribunals. He was involved in other litigation at the London Court of International Arbitration and won substantial awards for clients in personal injury and employment matters.

Patrick has authored or co-authored a number of articles in international law journals and is a regular speaker on the challenges of oil pollution in the Nigerian Delta, an area on which he based his doctoral thesis. His principal areas of practice include Oil and Gas and Energy law, Banking and Insurance, Corporate and Commercial Law, Contracts, Telecommunications Law, International Law, Environmental Law, Development Law, Human Rights Law, Property Law and Civil Litigation (including Arbitration and Mediation).

Kola attended both Igbobi College and Baptist Academy Lagos before proceeding to the University of Maiduguri, Nigeria where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts Second Class (Honours) degree in History in 1985. In 1989 he obtained a Second Class (Honours) degree in Law from Lagos State University, Lagos, Nigeria and was called to the Nigerian Bar and enrolled as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in December 1990. He then practiced as a Solicitor and Advocate with regular appearances in the Magistrates’ Courts, the High Court and the Federal High Court in Lagos. He was enrolled as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales on 17 January 2000. Before his enrolment Kola first practiced as a legal consultant in London between 1992 and 1994, specializing in all areas of Immigration, Nationality, Asylum and EU Law, also in Matrimonial matters. Between 1994 and 2000, he practiced as a lawyer/Solicitor in the Wandsworth and Merton Law Centre and a private law firm in all areas of Asylum, Immigration, Nationality, EU Law and Public Law. He has given training, legal talks and addressed seminars in these areas, and represented clients before Immigration Adjudicators, Immigration Judges in Immigration Appeal Tribunals. He has been involved in Judicial Review cases at the High Court and in appeals to the Court of Appeal. He has also been involved in Employment cases up to the House of Lords and the European Court of Justice. He has represented clients in Matrimonial cases at the County and High Courts. A number of these cases are reported in various law reports.

His principal areas of practice are Conveyancing/Property Law, Immigration, Asylum, Nationality and EU law, Public Law – Judicial Review, Family Law, Employment Law, Education Law, and Probate matters.

Professor Paul D. Ocheje attended Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria, from where he graduated in 1982 with the Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree in the Second Class Honours Upper Division. He obtained a Master of Laws (LLM) from the University of Benin in 1990. In 1994, he obtained another Master of Laws (LLM) degree, followed in 1999 by a Doctorate in law (D.Jur) both from Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, Toronto, Canada. From 1984-1991, he was on the faculty of the University of Benin Law School, Benin City, Nigeria, where he taught and conducted research in a number of courses, among them contracts, commercial law, agency, sale of goods, banking, and taxation. He is currently Professor of Law at the University of Windsor Law School, Windsor, Ontario, Canada. His areas of teaching and research include property law, trusts, commercial law (sales), access to justice, international development law, international economic law, international criminal law, human rights, consumer protection, insurance, banking and governance law (including financial crimes). He has published extensively in these areas.

Dr. Ocheje attended the Nigerian Law School, Lagos, and was called to the Nigerian Bar in July 1983. He was also admitted to the Law Society of Upper Canada (the Bar of Ontario) in October 2003. He practices immigration and refugee law, real estate law, estate administration, trusts, international investments, public international law, and international human rights law. He also consults regularly for international organizations and law firms. Dr. Ocheje is the current director of the University of Windsor’s Centre for Transnational Law and Justice. He is a facilitator and convenor of conferences and workshops, and presents at various international fora on a regular basis