Halimat is a member of the Firm’s Energy (Oil & Gas) Practice, where she routinely advises leading oil & gas companies, financiers, and government entities on high-value transactions, including M&A, pre-export finance, corporate & project finance, and debt restructuring. She also has extensive experience in regulatory compliance and legislative drafting, playing a key role in shaping energy-specific regulations in Nigeria. Recognised by IFLR1000 (2023) as a “thorough and professional” lawyer who provides “good legal advisory and timely review of contracts,” Halimat has contributed to industry-defining deals that drive Nigeria’s energy sector forward.

Relevant Experience

Halimat has advised and continues to advise on some of the largest, industry-shaping transactions in the Nigerian Oil & Gas industry.

• Advising a syndicate of lenders (including development financial institutions and commercial banks) on the restructuring of the c.USD3 billion facility granted for the purpose of financing the construction of the Dangote Petrochemical and Refinery Complex, one of Nigeria’s most significant projects
• Advised Seplat Energy Plc on the acquisition of the entire share capital of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (the Acquisition) and the ancillary financing in connection with the acquisition. The Acquisition was nominated as deal of the year (Domestic) by the IFLR 1000 as one of the largest acquisitions in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector to be structured post the passage of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021 and results in the Seplat Group controlling 16% of Nigeria’s present production capacity
• Advised on the USD3.3 billion crude oil prepayment facility provided by a lending consortium to NNPC Limited, the largest syndicated crude oil prepayment facility in Nigeria and one of the largest ever in Africa in recent years
• Advised NNPC E & P Limited on the USD3 billion financing and the provision of technical services for the development of petroleum in the Kolmani River area of Northern Nigeria, a project inaugurated by the President, Muhammadu Buhari on 22 November 2022
• Advised on the landmark transition of Nigeria’s national oil company (Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation) and all its affairs, into a private company limited by shares, as required under the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021
• Advised on the billion-dollar funding and technical service arrangement (FTSA) structure for the development of certain prolific petroleum assets in Nigeria
• Advised a syndicate of lenders on the restructuring of a USD1.2billion facility to an indigenous oil company in Nigeria