Legal Officer, Litigation & Dispute Resolution at First Bank

JOB DESCRIPTION

Duties & Responsibilities

         Verifies Wills and Letters of
Administration and renders advice on all probate-related matters.

         Reviews Writs of Summon and Statements
of Claim/Defence and other court processes, involving the Bank; proffers first
level drafts thereon and/or responses thereto; makes first level evaluations
thereof as well recommendation of likely strategies for the prosecution and/or
defence of same for the Team Lead’s and Unit Head’s further review.

         Responds to enquiries/demands from, and
interfaces with, Law Enforcement Agencies with respect to a wide range of the
Bank’s activities, including the Nigeria Police, Independent Corrupt Practices
Commission, Economic & Financial Crimes Commission; accompanies staff
members of the bank to honour official invitations by these bodies and provides
external counsel support, including arrangement for bail in deserving cases.

         Represents the Team Lead, and
sometimes, the Unit Head in meetings with customers and/ or branches.

         Initiates, at the request of the SBUs,
Recovery Business Unit and/or Classified Asset Management Unit and in liaison
with External counsel, the review and initiation of debt recovery processes
through litigation against defaulting customers of the Bank.

         Attends to garnishee and other
injunctive court processes/orders involving the Bank in liaison with Internal
Control, SBUs and the External solicitors.

         Manages and monitors pending cases in
liaison with External Solicitors till conclusion.

         Prepares the drafts of all species of
local and cross-border Bonds and Guarantees and vets/reviews drafts of same
prepared by counterparties to ensure there are no adverse clauses and that the
interest of the Bank is adequately protected and understudies the Team Lead and
Guarantee Supervisors in the Department in the art of Bonds and Guarantee
drafting and reviews.

         Conducts searches on Case files in
various Court Registries which outcomes are used to support the Bank’s position
in litigations and other tussle for interest.

         Responds to complaints sent in by
External Lawyers on behalf of their clients and convene meetings to resolve
issues raised to avoid litigation and mitigate loss by the Bank.

         Provides the legal framework for
recovery action and/or the realization of the securities by issuing demand
letters, appointment and formalization of appointment of Receiver/Managers,
Auctioneers at the instance of Classified Assets Management Department, Credit
Risk Management Department and Business units.

         Initiates, attends and participates in
meetings with defaulting customers and/or 
meetings on credit matters which have resulted or may result in
litigation with the primary aim of ensuring recovery at minimal or no cost

         Represents the Bank at meetings with
the Public Defender, Consumer Protection Agencies and other quasi-judicial
bodies that defend the rights of customers.

         Attends to Branches’ requests in
respect of matter arising from day-to-day operations which require legal
advice/guidance.

         Maintains the security of all
information entrusted to Staff.

         Ensures compliance with the principles
and policies contained in the Information Security Handbook.

         Ensures compliance with the principles
and policies contained in the Business Continuity Management Handbook.

         Assists the Team Lead and Unit Head in
the Unit’s involvement in, and compliance with the Bank’s Information Security
Management Policies, Business Continuity Management, BS25999, ISO 27001, and
initiatives, internal audit outcomes and compliance with recommendations,
ICAFAS, Business Performance Management, PSQA etc.

         Performs any other duties as may be
assigned by the Unit Head and/or Head, Legal Services.

External Qualification:

Minimum Education: First degree in Law and Professional Certificate
of Barrister At Law (compulsory)

Experience

Minimum experience: Two years post-call, legal practice in chambers.

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