Decision record
(unnamed respondent)
Findings — machine-extracted (anthropic-batch:claude-opus-4-8); verify against the decision
Horace Onobrakpeya, struck off in 2008 following findings of dishonesty (misuse of client funds, a false letter confirming completion, and false insurance statements) and later convicted of fraud in 2010, applied to be restored to the Roll after 18 years. The SRA opposed. The Tribunal found he had taken some positive rehabilitation steps but failed to provide adequate supporting evidence of rehabilitation, legal work experience, training/CPD, or offers of employment, and had failed to disclose his 6-year prison sentence in the application. Given the utmost gravity of the original dishonesty and outstanding losses, the Tribunal held the high threshold was not met and that restoration would undermine public confidence. The application was REFUSED and the Applicant ordered to pay £2,590 in costs.
Duties found breached:
Aggravating factors:
- Original misconduct of utmost gravity involving proven dishonesty over an extended period with premeditated and planned deception
- Substantial client monies lost (minimum £428,546, potentially up to £1.7 million) remaining outstanding
- Subsequent criminal conviction in 2010 for fraud and abuse of public office with a custodial sentence
- Failure to disclose the 6-year prison sentence in the Application and supporting documents, affecting accuracy of rehabilitation submissions
- Continued reliance on duress explanation which the original Tribunal had found not credible; limited insight
Mitigating factors:
- Passage of approximately 18 years since strike-off (application not premature)
- Acceptance of the 2008 Tribunal findings and expressions of remorse
- Positive character references and legalistic/community work including mentoring and Samaritan work in prison
- Willingness to accept practising conditions (no client money, supervision) and undertake further training