C C Okirie and O Okenla

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

Two solicitor partners of Okirie & Co (intervened April 2006) faced allegations of accounts breaches, improper client account transfers, and inadequate supervision. The First Respondent (Okirie) faced additional allegations of failing to report cashback incentives to lender clients in conveyancing for his son and using client money to buy a car. The Tribunal proceeded in his absence on the Rule 4 allegations only, found them all substantiated including dishonesty (applying Twinsectra), and struck him off with costs of £9,133.46. The Second Respondent (Okenla), held out as partner but with almost no actual involvement and no knowledge of the misconduct, admitted the allegations against him; the Tribunal, with sympathy, reprimanded him and ordered £500 costs.

Duties found breached:

• No improper communication with the court
• Disclose referrals, commissions and benefits
• No improper use of client money
• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
• Supervise staff and delegated work

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonesty in the course of practice involving clients' money (First Respondent)
• Failure to notify lender where purchaser was First Respondent's own son
• Round sum unexplained transfers totalling £53,645 from client to office account
• Failure to respond to Law Society/SRA correspondence and notices (First Respondent)
• £300 shortfall remained outstanding

Mitigating factors:

• Second Respondent had minimal actual involvement and no knowledge of the breaches
• Second Respondent was out of the country during relevant periods
• Second Respondent recently admitted and naive, taken advantage of by First Respondent
• Second Respondent caused no loss to clients and personally breached no rules
• Second Respondent attended and cooperated; strong testimonials; poor financial situation and family responsibilities

⚠ figures not found verbatim in the source were dropped: ["unverified_costs_amount=9633.46"]