Omezie,Iban,Akinmoyo,Jasper,Orji & 2 Others

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

In consolidated SDT proceedings, three solicitors (Omezie, Iban, Akinmoyo) operating associated firms (Omezie & Co, Anthony & Roberts, and successor firms Woodland and Ravenstone) were found to have systematically facilitated suspicious back-to-back/sub-sale conveyancing transactions bearing hallmarks of mortgage fraud, failing to inform lender clients of material facts, breaching Rules 1 and 6, and committing Accounts Rules breaches. The Tribunal made express findings of dishonesty against all three (applying the Twinsectra test), including Omezie's dishonest conduct in his own purchase of 171 Capital West and Akinmoyo's dishonest withdrawal of client funds. All three were struck off. Registered foreign lawyer Orji was struck off the RFL register for a sham partnership. The fourth respondent (assistant solicitor/RCL director) was fined £5,000; Cecile Bramble was suspended 12 months (no dishonesty alleged); and clerk Harry Jasper was made subject of a s.43 order. Costs ordered severally totalling £91,000.

Duties found breached:

• Proper basis for allegations
• No improper communication with the court
• No taking unfair advantage
• Not mislead third parties or opponents
• No improper use of client money
• Honour professional undertakings
• Good faith and courtesy to colleagues

Aggravating factors:

• Conduct was systematic, advertent and repetitive over a three-year period
• Respondents continued the same improper conduct in successor firms (Woodland, Ravenstone) after being put on clear notice by inspections
• Familiarity with the Green Card warning on property fraud and CML Handbook yet flagrant disregard
• Misdescription of ledger entries to disguise payments to third parties
• Substantial surpluses generated from mortgage advances paid to third parties
• Akinmoyo absconded to Nigeria, misappropriated client funds and failed to engage with regulator
• Mr Omezie had a previous disciplinary finding (2004) for Accounts Rules breaches

Mitigating factors:

• Respondents claimed inexperience in conveyancing and lack of management training
• Belief (held by Iban) that assignments did not require reporting to lender under CML Handbook
• Iban took some steps to resolve breach of undertaking

⚠ figures not found verbatim in the source were dropped: ["unverified_costs_amount=91000"]