Uyiosasere On Obaseki

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

Solicitor and sole practitioner Uyiosasere Ona Obaseki faced eight allegations, all alleging dishonesty. Three (1.1, 1.2, 1.7) were not proved. Five were proved: improperly transferring £230,000 of client money via her personal account into a fraudulent investment scheme (ISG Exchange); entering into a Financial Loan Agreement with the client creating an own-interest conflict; failing to repay client monies timely; providing misleading information to professional indemnity insurers Travelers; and failing to report the loss of client funds to her blind client for over a year. Dishonesty was found proved on two allegations: misleading the insurers (1.6) and failing to report the loss to the client while telling a series of lies (1.8). No exceptional circumstances were found. The Tribunal struck her off the Roll and ordered costs of £52,686.

Duties found breached:

• Integrity
• Uphold public trust in the profession
• Act in the client's best interests
• No own-interest conflict
• Handle inadvertently received material
• Segregate client money
• No improper use of client money
• Diligence and timeliness
• Good faith and courtesy to colleagues

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonesty found in respect of two allegations (1.6 and 1.8)
• Misconduct deliberate, calculated and repeated in terms of lies told to client about whereabouts of his money
• Misconduct continued over a period of time
• Experienced solicitor with direct control as sole practitioner
• Previous disciplinary appearance in 2007 (reprimanded)
• Failed to notify regulator - SRA found out via client's Compensation Fund application
• Lack of insight into misconduct

Mitigating factors:

• Made some efforts to reimburse the client, repaying a significant amount (£177,000 of £230,000)
• Did not intend to harm the client
• Herself a victim of the ISG Exchange investment scam