Debayo Adedipe

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

The Attorney received a judgment debt of $2,555,875 from the Attorney General on behalf of the Complainant (injured by police shooting) but failed to pay it over for over five years. He did not file a required affidavit in response and admitted receiving the money and not paying it. The Panel found him guilty of professional misconduct under Canon VIII(d) and Canon I(b) beyond reasonable doubt. Although the Bolton dishonesty passage was cited, no express finding of dishonesty was made. He belatedly paid US$22,104.66/$3,030,327.99. The Panel struck him off the Roll, ordered restitution of $630,000 plus 12% interest, and costs of $300,000 ($200,000 to the Complainant and $100,000 to the General Legal Council).

Duties found breached:

• Uphold public trust in the profession
• No improper use of client money

Aggravating factors:

• Delay in paying over client funds spanning at least five years (some seven and a half years after receipt)
• Failure to file an affidavit in response to the Complaint despite orders and reminders
• Breach of the trust and confidence placed in him by a vulnerable client (a police-shooting victim, a minor at the time)
• Failure to provide the dates of receipt of funds despite three requests

Mitigating factors:

• Eventually made a payment of $3,030,327.99 (partial, made during the proceedings)