Isi Inyang & Simeon Olumide Coker & Nnanna Chrurchill Wagbaranta

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

In proceedings against four respondents at the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (1-9 October 2018), the Third Respondent (name redacted), a solicitor, was found to have signed Particulars of Claim, a Defence and Claim Forms containing inaccurate and misleading information, allowed improper withdrawal of deposit funds in breach of the SRA Accounts Rules, and caused/allowed inflated bills to be raised in relation to Client A. He was found to have acted recklessly and to have lacked integrity, but the Tribunal expressly found the dishonesty allegations against him NOT proved. He was suspended from practice for 2 years and ordered to pay 12.5% of costs (interim payment £7,184.75). By contrast the First and Second Respondents were struck off for dishonesty, and the Fourth Respondent (already off the Roll) was fined £50,000 and prohibited from restoration.

Duties found breached:

• Not mislead the court
• Proper basis for allegations
• No taking unfair advantage
• Not mislead third parties or opponents
• Uphold public trust in the profession
• Act in the client's best interests
• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank
• No conflict between current clients
• No improper use of client money

Aggravating factors:

• Misconduct repeated and deliberate, though not necessarily calculated
• Continued over a period of time
• Wrongdoing concealed by pursuing the litigation
• Ought to have known he was in material breach of his obligations

Mitigating factors:

• Resigned from the Firm when he became uncomfortable about how it was run
• Co-operated with the SRA throughout (and was even assaulted due to his co-operation)
• Demonstrated insight, reflected in admissions to many allegations
• No previous disciplinary history
• Was a Partner for only a brief period
• Received no financial benefit
• Little or no experience in this area of law
• Positive character references
• Undertook to ensure the disputed funds were not touched while he was a Partner and kept to that

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