Area Legal Officer at First Bank of Nigeria Limited

First Bank of Nigeria Limited (FirstBank) is Nigeria's largest financial services institution by total assets and gross earnings. With more than 10 million customer accounts, FirstBank has over 750 branches providing a comprehensive range of retail and corporate financial services. The Bank has international presence through its subsidiaries, FBN Bank (UK) Limited in London and Paris, FBNBank DRC, FBNBank Ghana, FBNBank Gambia, FBNBank Guinea, FBNBank Sierra-Leone and FBNBank Senegal, as well as its Representative Offices in Johannesburg, Beijing and Abu Dhabi.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Area Legal Officer

Job Identification: 1179
Location: Port Harcourt, Rivers
Employment Type: Full time

Duties & Responsibilities

• The duties and responsibilities being carried out by Legal Officers, Litigation Unit and Legal Officer Security Documentation Management Unit at the Head Office are also being carried out/performed by the Area Legal Officers in each of the Area Legal offices in which they are located. In addition to the aforementioned, the Area Legal Officers also carry out the under listed responsibilities:
• 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 honor official invitations by these bodies and provides external counsel support, including arrangement for bail in deserving cases.
• Initiates, under the supervision of the Area Legal Manager and 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.
• Creates and manages the database of all activities of the Area Legal Manager’s Office for purposes of storage, confidentiality, seamless retrieval, etc.
• Reviews complaints sent in by External Lawyers on behalf of their clients within the area of their coverage, convene meetings (at the instance of the Area Legal Manager) to resolve issues raised to avoid litigation and mitigate loss by the Bank and prepares draft responses for review and approval by the Area Legal Manager.
• Supports the Area Legal Manager in the implementation of 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.
• Attends and participates in meetings, as detailed by the Area Legal Manager, 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.
• Prepares periodic activity/status reports as requested by the General Counsel for review and rendition by the Area Legal Manager and submitted to the relevant Head, Efficiency Optimization & Hub Coordination.
• 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.
• Performs any other duties as may be assigned by the Area Legal Manager, Head, Efficiency Optimization & Hub Coordination and/or General Counsel.

Education & Experience

• Minimum of a First Degree or its equivalent in a IT related discipline
• Master's or a recognized professional certification will be an added advantage
• 5+ years of experience in systems support/ administration.

Application Closing Date
25th September, 2024 (07:57 AM).