Blessing Ringwede Odatuwa

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

Blessing Ringwede Odatuwa, a sole practitioner solicitor, faced seven allegations arising from an SRA inspection of his firm Sharpfields & Co. The Tribunal found all allegations proven. He admitted improperly charging profit costs as disbursements for telegraphic transfers, and was found to have conducted unregistered insurance work and failed to provide required information to clients. Most seriously, in a series of conveyancing transactions the vendors accepted less than the stated sale price with the difference (totalling over £304,000) paid to third parties (F1, CL, WB). The Tribunal, applying the Twinsectra test, found the transactions bore clear hallmarks of mortgage fraud, that the Respondent created misleading documents showing inflated purchase prices, used the client account without an underlying legal transaction, failed to advise clients, and knowingly acted dishonestly for the profit of himself and his firm. He was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay costs of £15,000, not to be enforced without leave given his financial circumstances.

Duties found breached:

• Advise on alternatives, settlement and outcome
• Costs and fee transparency to client
• No improper use of client money
• Self-report to the regulator
• Not misrepresent regulated status

Aggravating factors:

• Acted dishonestly knowingly for profit of himself and his firm
• Created documents designed to protect his own position rather than clients' interests
• 20 to 30 such transactions undertaken
• Proceeded despite awareness of the unusual/apparently dishonest nature of the transactions
• Acted in breach of clients' instructions by paying WB when only authorised to pay F1
• Exposed clients to risk of becoming tainted by mortgage fraud

Mitigating factors:

• No previous disciplinary sanctions
• Clean accounts in 2008 and 2009
• No serious client complaints
• Ceased telegraphic transfer practice once breach drawn to attention
• Cooperated by appearing in person and giving evidence
• Difficult financial circumstances (unemployed, mortgage arrears)