The General Counsel of Moniepoint, Okechukwu Eke, has been named to the GC Powerlist: Nigeria 2026 by The Legal 500, marking his second appearance on the prestigious list.
Eke was previously recognised in the inaugural 2024 edition of the GC Powerlist, which highlights influential and innovative in-house counsel driving significant transformation within Nigeria’s leading organisations.
Now in its third year, the GC Powerlist Nigeria recognises legal professionals who are navigating complex regulatory environments, advancing technological transformation and shaping the commercial direction of their organisations.
According to The Legal 500, nominations for the list are submitted annually by law firm partners and in-house counsel who identify lawyers that have played critical roles in advancing their organisations through innovative legal solutions, strategic business advice and the development of effective governance structures.
Speaking on the significance of the recognition, Global Business Development Manager at The Legal 500, David Freeman, noted that the role of in-house counsel continues to evolve beyond traditional legal functions.
He said general counsel are increasingly becoming strategic leaders influencing governance, regulatory engagement and overall business transformation within organisations.
Eke’s inclusion on the 2026 list reflects continued progress within Moniepoint’s legal function since he joined the company in 2022. He currently leads the firm’s legal team in delivering proactive and commercially aligned legal support across its banking, payments, credit and remittance operations.
Under his leadership, the legal team has coordinated multi-jurisdictional due diligence and documentation reviews across Nigeria, the United States and the United Kingdom, facilitating transactions that have supported the company’s expansion and product innovation.
The team has also developed standardised agreements across Moniepoint’s product and service lines, contributing to the company’s reputation as one of Africa’s fastest-growing fintech firms.
Reacting to the recognition, Eke described the honour as a reflection of the efforts of the entire legal team.
He said the legal function within the organisation has evolved from handling complex cross-border transactions to becoming deeply embedded in the company’s commercial and product operations, while helping to set higher standards for in-house legal practice within Africa’s fintech sector.
Other legal professionals named on the 2026 GC Powerlist include Tochukwu Okezie of Interswitch Group, Erhi Obebeduo of Guaranty Trust Bank, Abisola Oshin-Gbadamosi of Afya Care, and Felix Chidozie Obiamalu of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, among others.
The Legal 500 has analysed the capabilities of law firms and in-house lawyers worldwide for more than three decades through a research programme that evaluates legal expertise across over 150 jurisdictions. The organisation’s research is based on client feedback, law firm submissions and interviews with leading legal practitioners globally.
