Jonathan Omowale Akinsanya

Jonathan is an immensely experienced criminal litigation practitioner in the UK of 23 years. He has developed an extremely strong criminal defence practice – he has been counsel (both as leading and junior counsel) in some of the most high profile criminal cases in that jurisdiction. He specialises in all areas of serious crime. He is a Barrister in the well-regarded criminal chambers of 9 Bedford Row London, headed by Stephen Kay QC - the chambers is ranked in the UK’s Legal 500, as being ‘great for international matters and ‘very competent in high-value fraud’ matters.


Over the years Jonathan had developed a formidable practice with a wealth of experience defending in murder/manslaughter, large scale drug trafficking, fraud and financial crime, money laundering, corruption and serious sexual offences. He has exceptional advocacy skills. In 23 years at the Bar of England & Wales he has been involved in far too many cases to mention here, however some examples of the most complex and legally challenging cases he has been involved in include the following –

• He represented Chief James Ibori following his extradition from the UAE to the jurisdiction of England and Wales on allegations of Money Laundering and corruption whilst Governor of Delta State. Jonathan had already successfully defended Adebimpe Pogoson who was Chief James Ibori’s Senior Special Assistant (Confidential Matters) during his two terms of Governorship.



• He successfully defended in the high profile Murder case of Damilola Taylor, which received considerable national and international media attention. Jonathan has defended in many other murder cases.



• Leading Counsel in an international conspiracy (involving the UK, France, Holland, USA and the Caribbean) to import Class A drugs into the UK - R v Nekeisha Anderson et al, a case that involved 15 defendants. Although his client was convicted on a majority verdict by the jury Jonathan took the case on appeal to the Court of Appeal and successfully argued that the conviction should be quashed on the grounds of fresh evidence. Again he has substantial experience and expertise in these sorts of cases.



• He also successfully defended a Nigerian at Woolwich Crown Court who was charged with 11 counts of sexual abuse against 4 complainants. Because he has rights of audience in both England & Wales and in Nigeria, Jonathan is also able to accept instructions to restrain assets in the UK of Nigerians who are under investigation in Nigeria.



• Successfully defended in a Prison Mutiny case – there was a mutiny at Hollesley Bay Young Offenders Institution in which the prisoners made attempts to take over the prison. There were a total of 14 defendants on trial. Also defended in the Lincoln Prison riots trial – this was said to be the biggest riot at a prison in the UK.

Jonathan was called to the Bar of England & Wales by the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple in 1993 having previously trained and worked as a psychiatric nurse. He was admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 2015. Jonathan joined Charles Anthony LLP in December 2016 from the law firm of Oluwakemi Balogun & Co in Lagos, where he was an Associate Partner.


Jonathan was educated at Baptist Academy, Lagos Nigeria and at South Bank University, London from where he obtained his degree in law. He is a member of various professional associations including, including the Criminal Bar Association in England and the British-Nigerian Law Forum. He is an Associate Member of Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and currently sits on the Qualifications Committee of the UK Bar Standards Board (as a Barrister member) He became a Junior of the South Eastern Circuit Bar Mess in 2002. He is an avid supporter of Liverpool Football Club, and enjoys playing cricket, rugby and football.