Gboyega Ajibola Okunniga

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

Mr Okunniga, a consultant solicitor at Clifton Law Limited, faced four allegations. The Tribunal found Allegations 1-3 proved with dishonesty: misleading Coventry County Court by fabricating a 'merger' to explain nine client payments into his personal accounts (Allegation 1); issuing unauthorised invoices to clients for fees not owed to the Firm and demanding payment (Allegation 2); and sending two misleading letters on the Firm's letterhead falsely describing himself as 'Head of International Trade and Arbitration' (Allegation 3). Allegation 4 (misleading the court in enforcement proceedings about beneficial ownership of property via an alleged sham trust deed) was found not proved, as the Tribunal lacked the underlying evidence and accepted Mr Okunniga's explanation. Finding very high culpability, dishonesty, harm to the Firm and clients, and no exceptional circumstances, the Tribunal struck him off the Roll and ordered costs of £10,000 (reduced from £59,154.66 due to limited means).

Duties found breached:

• Act in the client's best interests
• Honesty
• Integrity
• No conflict between current clients
• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank
• Not mislead the court
• Uphold public trust in the profession

Aggravating factors:

• Calculated, knowingly dishonest actions repeated over a period of time
• Attempted to place blame on the Firm's principal Mrs Onwuka
• Conduct in pursuit of personal gain
• Lack of insight into nature or effect of misconduct
• Unreliable witness with inconsistent evidence

Mitigating factors:

• No previous disciplinary findings
• Character references of good character
• Voluntary provision of free legal services to his community