Year of Call
2023Areas of practice
Prosecution, Defence, Injunctions / domestic abuse, Children law (private), Children law (public)
“Thank you so much for your time yesterday, our client was very pleased.”
Instructing solicitor
Biography
Victory is a dual qualified barrister with rights of audience in Nigeria, and England & Wales. Before transferring to the English Bar, he maintained a distinguished practice in Nigeria, representing prominent individuals and corporate clients in complex civil and criminal matters, including corporate fraud, breach of contract, defamation, property disputes, and the enforcement of foreign arbitral awards.
Since his transfer to the English bar, Victory has been regularly instructed to prosecute and defend in the crown courts, magistrates courts and youth courts in relation to a broad range of criminal offences including controlling and coercive behaviour, affray, drug offences, sexual offences, robbery/theft, fraud, dangerous driving, causing unnecessary suffering to protected animals etc. Victory is popular with lay clients, who appreciate his ability to put them at ease, and easily earn their trust. He has been described by lay clients to be exceptionally convincing, and to have “a response for everything”.
Victory is regularly instructed to both prosecute and defend in the Crown Court, Magistrates’ Court, and Youth Court. He is on the CPS General Crime Panel at Grade 1, and his advocacy experience spans over 600 hearings, encompassing trials, PTPHs, bail applications, sentencing, and appeals. He has appeared as both prosecution and defence counsel in a wide range of serious offences, including intentional strangulation, administering poisonous substance, section 20 grievous bodily harm, controlling and coercive behaviour, possession with intent to supply class A drugs, possession of bladed article, fraud, and other cases. He also maintains a high success rate in traffic matters, frequently achieving favourable outcomes in trials, exceptional hardship applications, sentence reductions, and disqualification removal hearings.
In addition to his criminal practice, Victory has developed a growing family law practice, building upon his background in civil litigation and his extensive experience working with vulnerable clients in criminal proceedings. He has successfully represented applicants in securing non-molestation orders and has acted in applications for child arrangement orders. His empathetic approach, meticulous preparation, and persuasive advocacy enable him to support clients through highly sensitive and emotional proceedings. Victory continues to expand his family law practice, with a particular interest in cases involving domestic abuse and child welfare.
He holds a masters degree in corporate and commercial law from Queen Mary University of London, and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, UK.
Victory also accepts instructions on a direct access basis.
Education
- Bar Transfer Test, BPP University.
- Master of Laws (LLM in Corporate and Commercial law), Queen Mary University of London, United Kingdom.
- Law Practice Course (BL) Nigerian Law School, Bwari, Abuja.
- LLB University of Lagos, Nigeria.
Memberships
- Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK), Member (MCIArb).
- The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn, Member.
- Nigerian Bar Association, Member.
Notable Cases
R v Kempson: Prosecuted a fraudster who took money for work which was not undertaken. A report of the case can be found here.
R v LR (Affray): Defence counsel for a vulnerable youth in a three-day affray trial. Despite incriminating CCTV footage and multiple witnesses, he secured a not guilty verdict through a compelling closing speech.
R v YD (Theft): Represented the defendant in a youth theft trial. Through strategic cross-examination of police witnesses and clear submissions on evidential weakness, he secured an acquittal after trial.
R v AK (Domestic Battery): Represented the defendant charged with domestic battery in a two-day trial at the Magistrates’ Court. He successfully exposed inconsistencies in the accounts of both Crown witnesses. With no evidence of injury, the District Judge accepted his submissions and returned a not guilty verdict.
R v Dobson (Assault): As prosecuting counsel, Victory proved an assault case despite the absence of CCTV footage or visible injuries. The conviction was secured largely due to inadvertent comments made by the defendant during a 999 call, which Victory relied upon in closing to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
R v KP (Assault on Emergency Worker): Represented KP in a Crown Court trial for assault on an emergency worker and going equipped for theft. Following the five-day trial, he secured an acquittal on the assault charge and persuaded the court to impose a suspended sentence for possession of a bladed article.
R v AS (Dangerous Driving): Represented AS in a dangerous driving trial. He demonstrated that the identification evidence was unreliable and insufficient, resulting in an acquittal.
R v BC (Animal Cruelty): Prosecuted a Crown Court case involving animal cruelty. When the complainant failed to attend, he successfully applied to admit body-worn video footage as res gestae evidence, allowing the case to proceed in the complainant’s absence.
R v DC (Bladed Article): Prosecuted a defendant for possession of a bladed article. He discredited the defendant’s “reasonable excuse” defence and secured a conviction, resulting in a ten-month custodial sentence.
R v JH (Serious Offences): Defended JH on five serious counts, including intentional strangulation, administering poison, and assault. The defendant was convicted only of the assault charge, and Victory successfully persuaded the court to impose a community order.
R v JM (Drugs): In a Newton hearing for possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, Victory examined an expert witness in chief and undermined the defendant’s claim of “purchasing the drugs to share with friends.” The court accepted the prosecution’s position on intent to supply.
R v JA (Application to Vacate Guilty Plea): Represented a vulnerable client in a contested application to vacate a guilty plea. He established a strong rapport with the client and successfully persuaded the Crown Court to exercise its discretion and grant the application.
B v S: Successfully represented B in an application for a Non-Molestation Order.