Dr. Francis Omotayo Oni

Dr. Francis Omotayo Oni is a Partner and Head of International Dispute Resolution and Maritime with over 33 years of experience in public international law, international dispute resolution, international law of the sea, and maritime law. He holds a doctorate in Public International Law from the University of Durham, U.K., and has extensive experience in international criminal law, international humanitarian law, international environmental law, and international law of title to territory (land and maritime boundaries).

He represented Nigeria as counsel in the case Switzerland v Nigeria at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), Hamburg. He led the team that coordinated and reviewed the law establishing NEPAD, and has handled, advised and coordinated potential cases for Nigeria at the International Criminal Court on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Justice. He has advised on numerous high‑profile matters concerning the Law of the Sea, international law of title to territory (land and maritime boundaries), maritime law, and Nigerian domestic law. He served at the National Boundary Commission, The Presidency (1992–2010) and the International and Comparative Law Department, Federal Ministry of Justice, Abuja (2010–2022), and has been a part‑time lecturer in Public International Law and Law of Contract at the University of Durham, U.K., and the Foreign Service Academy, Lagos.