Reuben Okoye

Reuben is the Commissioner for Electricity Market Operations at the Enugu Electricity Regulatory Commission. He is a highly respected legal and regulatory expert with over three decades of experience in the Nigerian electric power sector and in legal practice. His career trajectory demonstrates a consistent dedication to navigating the complexities of this dynamic industry

Reuben played a pivotal role during the landmark privatization of the Nigerian power sector between 2012 and 2013. As part of a select group of legal specialists, the ring-side seat afforded him a unique opportunity to participate in the rigorous review, negotiation and finalization of various privatization and industry agreements with the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).

From 2013 to 2022, Reuben held senior management positions in two privatized electricity distribution companies (Discos). He served as the founding head of the Regulatory Department at Enugu Electricity Distribution Plc (EEDC), where he established a robust foundation for regulatory compliance. He subsequently transitioned to Abuja Electricity Distribution Plc (AEDC) as the General Manager of the Regulatory and Government Relations Department. Throughout his tenure at both Discos, Reuben’s leadership in managing legal and regulatory compliance risks garnered the respect of employers, regulatory authorities, and industry colleagues alike.

As one of the first regulatory professionals within the post-privatization era, Reuben actively participated in navigating the sector’s major transitional challenges and developments. His contributions include: negotiating and adopting the Interim Rules, managing the processes for the Discos’ baseline ATC&C loss study, successfully navigating the Discos’ first major tariff review (2014-2015), structuring the Nigerian Electricity Market Stabilisation Fund (NEMSF) 1, managing the sector’s Force Majeure challenges and successfully averting a major threat of license cancellation by the regulator (2019).

Prior to his involvement in the power sector, Reuben had a distinguished legal career spanning over 20 years. As part of Aelex Legal Practitioners, a prominent Nigerian law firm, he participated in ground-breaking legal work across various fields, including infrastructure, environment, business acquisition, and collaborations with leading international law firms. His accomplishments were recognized with a nomination in the 2009 edition of Who is Who Legal as a leading practitioner in communications regulation.

In his early legal career, Reuben honed his skills as a committed litigation lawyer. He successfully participated in various legal proceedings, including: Enforcement of fundamental rights, Trademark and commercial disputes, Criminal trials, Loan recoveries and general banking litigation, and High-profile, complex litigations involving millions of dollars.

Reuben has a Master’s Law Degree from the University of Lagos, obtained a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Nigeria and was called to the bar in Nigeria in 1989 as a barrister and solicitor.