Barr. Chijioke Nnaemeka Obi

Profile Overview

Barrister Chijioke Nnaemeka Obi is a seasoned Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria with over 35 years of post-call experience in electricity regulation, corporate law, and governance. His career spans frontline roles in sector regulation, utility governance, consumer protection, and market enforcement within Nigeria’s electricity supply industry.

Education & Professional Development

Barrister Obi holds an LL.B (Hons), BL, and LL.M, and is a Certified Regulation Specialist from Loughborough University, UK, in partnership with IP3, USA. He has undertaken extensive executive and professional education at leading global institutions, including the Harvard Kennedy School (Executive Education) in the United States, the University of Cumbia in the United Kingdom, the Public Utility Research Center (PURC) at the University of Florida, and the International Law Institute/Georgetown University in Washington D.C.

This blend of academic grounding and specialised regulatory training has equipped him with a deep, comparative understanding of utility regulation, sector governance, and modern enforcement practice.

Career in Electricity Regulation & Governance

Barrister Obi voluntarily retired from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) as General Manager, Legal, Licensing & Compliance after a distinguished career at the heart of Nigeria’s electricity reform. In this role, he led the legal and licensing functions, guided compliance strategy, and helped operationalise the regulatory framework that underpins the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).

He also previously headed the Consumer Complaints Division of NERC, where he oversaw the resolution of disputes between electricity consumers and service providers, strengthened consumer redress mechanisms, and helped entrench a culture of fairness and accountability in service delivery.

Beyond NERC, he served as Principal Legal Adviser to the Managing Director/CEO of the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET), where he supported transaction structuring, contract design, risk allocation, and compliance in Nigeria’s bulk power purchase arrangements.

Regulatory & Market Contributions

Barrister Obi played a pivotal role in shaping Nigeria’s electricity regulatory framework. He was instrumental in drafting landmark rulings and enforcement procedures, including the “Notice of Intention to Commence Enforcement Action,” which has become standard practice in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry. This enforcement protocol strengthened due process, transparency, and regulatory credibility.

He contributed to the development of most extant NERC regulations, helping to define the rules, standards, and obligations that govern market participants, protect consumers, and guide investment in the sector. His work has had lasting impact on how electricity is regulated, licensed, and enforced in Nigeria.

Professional Standing

As a Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria with over three decades of practice, Barrister Obi is widely recognised for his depth in utility law, regulatory compliance, and administrative justice. His blend of courtroom experience, regulatory drafting, and sector governance places him among the leading legal minds in Nigeria’s electricity industry.

Role at ASERC

As Executive Commissioner, Legal, Licensing & Enforcement at the Anambra State Electricity Regulatory Commission (ASERC), Barrister Chijioke Nnaemeka Obi brings unmatched legal, regulatory, and consumer protection expertise to the state’s electricity market. His mandate includes overseeing legal and licensing frameworks, strengthening enforcement and compliance, and ensuring that regulatory decisions are grounded in due process, fairness, and the long-term interests of electricity consumers in Anambra State.