The General Counsel of Moniepoint, Okechukwu Eke, has been named to the GC Powerlist: Nigeria 2026 compiled by Legal 500, marking his second appearance on the prestigious list after his first recognition in the inaugural 2024 edition.
The GC Powerlist Nigeria recognises outstanding in-house legal professionals who are playing critical roles in shaping the growth and strategic direction of leading organisations across the country.
Now in its third year, the 2026 edition highlights general counsel who are navigating complex regulatory environments, driving technological transformation, and contributing to key business decisions within their companies.
Each year, Legal 500 invites law firm partners and corporate counsel to nominate in-house lawyers who have significantly influenced their organisations.
Those selected are acknowledged for shaping commercial strategies, developing innovative solutions to complex legal issues, strengthening corporate governance structures, and establishing legal frameworks that support business growth.
Speaking on the significance of the recognition, Global Business Development Manager at Legal 500, David Freeman, noted that the role of general counsel has evolved significantly in recent years.
He said in-house legal leaders now play a vital role in guiding governance, managing regulatory relationships, and supporting business transformation.
Eke’s inclusion on the 2026 list reflects the continued progress of Moniepoint’s legal team since his first recognition.
Since joining the fintech company in 2022, he has led efforts to provide proactive and commercially focused legal support across the firm’s banking, payments, credit and remittance operations.
Under his leadership, the legal team has overseen multi-jurisdictional due diligence, documentation reviews, and governance approvals spanning Nigeria, the United States and the United Kingdom.
These efforts have supported strategic transactions that have helped drive the company’s expansion and product innovation.
The team has also introduced standardised legal agreements across Moniepoint’s various product and service offerings, a move that has contributed to the company’s growth and operational efficiency.
Reacting to the recognition, Eke described the honour as a reflection of the collective work of Moniepoint’s legal team.
He said the legal department has continued to evolve from handling complex cross-border transactions to becoming deeply integrated in the company’s commercial and product development processes, while helping to set new standards for in-house legal excellence within Africa’s fintech sector.
Other legal professionals recognised on the 2026 GC Powerlist include Tochukwu Okezie of Interswitch Group, Erhi Obebeduo of Guaranty Trust Bank, Abisola Oshin-Gbadamosi of Afya Care, Adeola Olumeyan of Junior Achievement Africa, Felix Chidozie Obiamalu of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, Lanre Kuforiji of Inq. Nigeria, Sesan Sobowale of Union Bank of Nigeria, and Yemisi Diya-Salawu of IHS Towers.
Legal 500 has spent more than three decades assessing the performance of law firms and in-house legal teams worldwide, covering more than 150 jurisdictions.
Its research draws on feedback from over 300,000 clients globally, submissions from law firms, and interviews with leading legal practitioners.
Since the launch of the Powerlist in 2013, the organisation has recognised more than 3,000 individuals, 2,000 legal teams, and 100 law firms across 38 regions and countries.
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