Elizabeth Oruene Ikiriko

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

Elizabeth Oruene Ikiriko, a solicitor with 22 years' experience and sole practitioner, witnessed a Power of Attorney falsely attesting that both donors (Person A and Client B) had signed in her presence when Person A had actually signed at home. The PoA enabled a proxy marriage in Cameroon. The SRA alleged dishonesty, lack of integrity and failures in identifying the client and acting in her best interests. The Tribunal found the dishonesty allegation NOT proved, accepting her conduct arose from 'misplaced compassion', genuinely held traditional moral beliefs and impaired judgment amid COVID-19 pandemic stresses, bereavements and health issues. Recklessness was also not proved. However, the Tribunal found she lacked integrity (Principle 5), undermined public trust (Principle 2), failed to act in Person A's best interests (Principle 7), and breached Code paragraphs 1.4 and 3.4. Allegations 1.1 and 1.3 were found proved in part; Allegation 1.2 not proved. She was suspended for 6 months, suspended for 1 year conditional on completing 10 hours of CPD, and ordered to pay costs reduced from £30,855 to £15,000 owing to partial success, inadequate investigation (failure to interview Client B) and her means.

Duties found breached:

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

Aggravating factors:

• Potential, if not actual, harm to Person A who was married by proxy without full appreciation of consequences
• Conduct was a complete departure from the integrity, probity and trustworthiness expected of solicitors and harmed the profession's reputation
• Tribunal was not convinced that even at the hearing the Respondent clearly understood the seriousness of her conduct

Mitigating factors:

• Single episode of brief duration in a previously unblemished 22-year career
• No previous disciplinary findings
• Genuine remorse
• Motivation of misplaced compassion and genuinely held moral beliefs rather than self-serving intent
• Minimal financial benefit (£60)
• Spontaneous, not pre-planned decision
• Extraordinary personal circumstances during COVID-19 pandemic including medical vulnerability, near-death experience and multiple bereavements
• Positive character evidence
• Openness about her actions and no concealment
• Cooperation and compliance with all procedural requirements/deadlines

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