Elizabeth Oruene Ikiriko

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

A solicitor of 22 years' experience witnessed a Power of Attorney attesting that both donors signed in her presence when Person A had signed at home, the PoA being used for a proxy marriage in Cameroon. The Tribunal found the dishonesty allegation NOT proved, accepting she acted from misplaced compassion and genuine moral conviction amid pandemic-related personal trauma and health vulnerability. It found Allegation 1.1 proved in part (lack of integrity under Principle 5, breach of Principle 2 and Paragraph 1.4). Allegation 1.2 was not proved; Allegation 1.3 proved in part (Principles 2 and 7 and Paragraph 3.4). Recklessness was not proved. She received a 6-month suspension, suspended for 1 year on condition of completing 10 hours of CPD, and was ordered to pay £15,000 costs (reduced from £30,855 claimed due to the unproven dishonesty allegation, inadequate investigation and her means).

Duties found breached:

• Act in the client's best interests
• Integrity
• No conflict between current clients
• Not mislead the court
• Uphold public trust in the profession

Aggravating factors:

• Potential, if not actual, harm to Person A who was married by proxy without her knowledge
• 22 years of experience meant she should have known better
• Tribunal not convinced she fully understood the seriousness of her conduct even at hearing

Mitigating factors:

• Single episode of brief duration in a previously unblemished 22-year career
• Genuine remorse expressed
• Misconduct arose from misplaced compassion and genuinely held moral beliefs rather than self-interest
• Minimal financial benefit (£60)
• Extraordinary COVID-19 pandemic circumstances
• Personal bereavements, medical vulnerability and impaired judgment
• No previous disciplinary findings
• Positive character references
• Spontaneous and not pre-planned conduct
• Openness about her actions, no concealment

⚠ figures not found verbatim in the source were dropped: ["review_dishonesty_finding_cue_present"]