Mr. A.B. Mahmoud is an accomplished legal practitioner and arbitrator with over 40 years of experience across private practice, public service, and corporate governance. Called to the Nigerian Bar in 1980, he has been in private practice since 1993 and is the Managing Partner of Dikko & Mahmoud, a full-service law firm with offices in Kano and Abuja, advising clients across the public and private sectors.

He has led numerous complex transactions and high-stakes commercial litigations, including landmark cases before the Supreme Court of Nigeria. He also served as Special Prosecutor in EFCC/CBN banking fraud cases and advised the Central Bank of Nigeria on sensitive investigations in the petroleum sector.

A seasoned arbitrator, Mr. Mahmoud has acted as counsel, sole arbitrator, and co-arbitrator in major domestic and international disputes across oil and gas, telecommunications, construction, and investment sectors. He contributed to Nigeria’s Arbitration and Mediation Act 2023 as a member of the National Arbitration Policy Committee. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK), an ICSID Panel Member, and a member of the Energy Arbitrators List. He was conferred with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2001.

He previously served in the Kano State Ministry of Justice (1979 -1993), rising to Attorney-General and holding key roles including Director of Public Prosecutions and Solicitor-General.

Mahmoud has extensive board and leadership experience, having served on the boards of major institutions including MTN Nigeria Plc, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers, and Nigerian Exchange Limited (as Chairman). He also served as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Kano University of Science and Technology (2013–2022).

He was President of the Nigerian Bar Association from 2016 to 2018, where he led significant reforms and strengthened international partnerships. He continues to serve in advisory roles for leading foundations and governance initiatives and is a frequent speaker at professional and policy forums globally.