Akinbolade Kehinde Arikawe

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

Akinbolade Kehinde Arikawe, admitted in April 2006, was found to have engaged in a thoroughly dishonest course of conduct both before and after admission. While training at CFB he misappropriated £15,300.72 from client account by forging partners' signatures on a CHAPS form, drew a £10,000 cheque to himself by forging a signature and falsifying the stub, and improperly transferred £3,500. He provided false information on an employment form to Pedro Emmanuel Solicitors, a forged CFB reference, and a forged reference to The Law Society for admission, and failed to disclose his dismissals. At Cherith he misappropriated £1,723.06 of office monies plus client monies (£600 and £50), and fabricated bank statements to conceal transactions. The Tribunal found all allegations substantiated (uncontested) and made an express finding of dishonesty, ordering that he be struck off the Roll and pay costs of £3,973.20.

Duties found breached:

• Proper basis for allegations
• No improper communication with the court
• Not mislead third parties or opponents
• No improper use of client money
• No improper solicitation or touting

Aggravating factors:

• Pursued a thoroughly dishonest course of conduct
• Forged partners' signatures on CHAPS transfer forms and cheques
• Fabricated office and client bank account statements to conceal transactions
• Provided forged references on forged headed paper
• Failed to disclose dismissals for gross misconduct from two firms
• Some repayment cheques were dishonoured on presentation
• Conduct placed the public in danger and damaged the reputation of the profession

Mitigating factors:

• Admitted the allegations
• Completed two years' training
• Repaid monies misappropriated
• Expressed remorse and relocated to the USA, ceasing UK practice