Disciplinary Record - Godwin Okri

Barrister Status:

Disbarred

Called:

Nov 1995

Inn:

Lincoln's Inn

Hearing type:

Disciplinary Tribunal (5 Person)

Decision date

01/03/2021

Breach details:

Professional misconduct contrary to paragraph 301(a)(i) and/or 301(a)(iii) and pursuant to paragraph 901, 905(b)(v), 901.7, Core Duty 9 and/or rule rC65.3 of the Code of Conduct of the Bar of England and Wales (7th, 8th and 9th Edition)

Offence details:

Godwin Okri engaged in conduct that was dishonest or otherwise discreditable to a barrister and/or was likely to diminish public confidence in the legal profession or the administration of justice or otherwise bring the profession into disrepute, in that, while he was in practice as a solicitor, he acted in a conveyancing transaction between around 19 August 2004 and around 10 September 2004 during which he:

a) acted for seller and buyer without the written consent of both parties, contrary to rule 6(a)(i) of the Solicitors Practice Rules 1990; and/or
b) acted for seller and buyer where a conflict of interest existed, contrary to rule 6(a)(ii) of the Solicitors Practice Rules 1990; and/or
c) dishonestly proceeded with a transaction knowing that the consideration passing was at an undervalue; and/or
d) dishonestly ignored the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s green card warning on property fraud; and/or
e) breached the Money Laundering Regulations 2003 by failing properly to ascertain the identity of his client; and/or
f) dishonestly failed to ensure that his client gave her instructions freely and without undue influence from others; and/or
g) dishonestly assisted a third party in securing property at a substantial undervalue;

for which conduct, on 10 December 2008, he was ordered to be struck off the roll of solicitors pursuant to a finding of the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal that he was guilty of conduct unbefitting a solicitor.

Godwin Okri failed to report to the Bar Standards Board the findings of professional misconduct made against him by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal on 10 December 2008 promptly or at all from 10 December 2008 to 5 January 2014.

Godwin Okri failed to co-operate with the Bar Standards Board and/or failed to report to it the findings of professional misconduct made against him by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal on 10 December 2008 promptly or at all from 6 January 2014 to November 2016.

Sanction:

Disbarred (sentence came into effect on 23 March 2021).

Costs:

£1,200.00

Status:

Final