Horace Okeroghene Onobrakpeya

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

Solicitor in a conveyancing transaction received a £2.7m mortgage advance and disbursed client funds to destinations unconnected with the client's purchase, leaving a minimum cash shortage of £428,546.53. He wrote a false letter to lender's solicitors confirming completion had taken place when it had not, and made false statements in professional indemnity insurance proposals. He claimed he acted under duress (threats to his daughter), but the Tribunal disbelieved this account, finding his lack of recall implausible and that he could have avoided acting as he did. Applying the Twinsectra test, the Tribunal was satisfied so that it was sure he was dishonest. He was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay agreed costs of £8,913.

Duties found breached:

• Not mislead the court
• Not mislead third parties or opponents
• No conflict between current clients
• No improper use of client money
• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
• Honour professional undertakings

Mitigating factors:

• Misunderstood the professional indemnity successor rules with no intention to mislead
• Returned £1,000,000 to Richards solicitors and asserted he had not pocketed the money
• Personal circumstances in disarray - facing homelessness, anticipated bankruptcy, and marriage breakdown