A globally renowned law firm, Centurion Law Group, has suspended its chief executive officer, Zion Adeoye, for gross misconduct.

The suspension was announced in a press statement dated November 27. The firm noted that his suspension was pending investigation.

However, CLG did not specifically state what constituted the gross misconduct for which its CEO is currently being probed.

The statement said, “CLG suspends Mr Zion Adeoye pending investigation. CLG as a firm believes the rule of law is supreme, including the presumption of innocence until proven otherwise. Zion Adeoye has been suspended for gross misconduct from his duties at CLG pending an investigation.

“The suspension in no way constitutes any finding of wrongdoing. An outside firm has been hired to support the investigation. CLG as a firm believes the rule of law is supreme, including the presumption of innocence until proven otherwise.”

CLG further noted that Mr Adeoye’s suspension was a necessary step to ensure an unhindered investigation. Checks revealed that Mr Adeoye’s suspension was announced earlier in October on CLG’s corporate website.

Mr Adeoye took over as CEO and managing partner of CLG from NJ Ayuk in 2024, following an announcement by Mr Ayuk to step down.

Until his suspension, Mr Adeoye Zion was the CEO of CLG Global and was responsible for Legal Affairs across Project Finance, Infrastructure, Real Estate, Taxation, and Energy law. He advised a cross-section of clients across Africa on big-ticket energy deals, especially in South Sudan, Uganda, Nigeria, Zambia, Equatorial Guinea, Congo, Ghana, Gabon and Senegal.

Before joining CLG Global, Mr Adeoye was Lead Transaction Counsel/Group Legal Counsel to the Transnational Energy Group, presiding over critical oil and gas and power projects in Nigeria.

He also had pivotal spells at the Tax Division of KPMG Nigeria, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, and the Lagos-based premium legal firms of Olaniwun Ajayi LP and Templars, where he advised several multinationals on a host of energy and infrastructure projects. Also, at the Abuja-based firm Terra Cotta Legal, he advised key government institutions and a host of multinationals on Energy and Taxation matters.

He was a strategic adviser during the various efforts at amending the Nigerian Petroleum Act and related legislations, including acting at one time as secretary to the Petroleum Industry Bill Fiscal and Financial Management Syndicate Session commissioned by the Nigerian Federal House of Representatives and advised the Board of Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative on the fiscal aspects of the PIB.

Zion continues to advise on some of the most strategic deals across Africa, especially in the frontier Energy markets, and was recently awarded a ‘40 under 40 Rising Stars’ award at the Nigerian ESQ Legal Awards, for shaping the future of the legal profession in Nigeria and on the continent.