Adeyinka Mafe

Findings — machine-extracted (anthropic-batch:claude-opus-4-8); verify against the decision

Adeyinka Mafe, a solicitor practising on his own account as MIB Solicitors, abandoned his practice and misused client mortgage funds. Abbey National had paid £1,651,365 in five mortgage advances during March/April 2009 which were not used for the relevant property purchases. The Respondent falsely represented Mr O Ikhide as a partner on his notepaper without consent, and appeared to misappropriate £695,000 (paid under the reference "Yinka", part of his own name) for his own benefit. The Tribunal, applying Twinsectra v Yardley, found dishonesty and described it as one of the worst cases of dishonesty it had dealt with. The Respondent did not appear. He was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay costs of £10,178.62.

Duties found breached:

• Act only on proper, lawful instructions
• No conflict between current clients
• No improper use of client money
• No taking unfair advantage
• Safeguard documents and limit liens

Aggravating factors:

• One of the worst cases of dishonesty the Tribunal had dealt with
• Misappropriation of £695,000 of client funds for own benefit
• Clients suffered as a result of his dishonesty
• Brought reputation of the profession into disrepute