A E Ozuzu, E D Ogbuehi & Another

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

The SDT heard consolidated cases against three respondents. Mr Ozuzu and Mr Ogbuehi did not appear; the Tribunal proceeded in their absence. Mr Ozuzu was found to have failed to keep proper accounts, provided misleading costs information, sent a misleading letter to the SRA (with gross recklessness), continued to practise while uncertificated after bankruptcy, failed to manage the practice, and dishonestly failed to disclose material information (two IPS awards and SDT referral) to his PII insurers. Mr Ogbuehi was found to have failed to keep proper accounts, provided misleading costs information, was cautioned for assault by beating, and dishonestly submitted a fictitious low fee estimate to the ARP. Express findings of dishonesty were made against both under the Twinsectra test. Both were struck off. The Third Respondent (an unadmitted clerk) was found not to have acted with conscious impropriety regarding his mis-description as a Legal Executive/LLM holder, and no s.43 Order was made. Ozuzu was ordered to pay £15,000 costs and Ogbuehi £17,000 costs, not enforceable without leave of the Tribunal.

Duties found breached:

• No improper communication with the court
• Not mislead third parties or opponents
• Disclose material information to client
• Costs and fee transparency to client
• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
• Hold a current practising certificate
• No baseless or threatened misconduct report

Aggravating factors:

• Mr Ozuzu had a previous disciplinary sanction (fine) in 2008
• Dishonesty involved concealment of material information from insurers
• Ogbuehi submitted a fictitious fee estimate supported by detailed documents to obtain a lower premium

⚠ figures not found verbatim in the source were dropped: ["unverified_costs_amount=32000"]