Barrister Ehi Ukiwa was ordered to be disbarred by an independent disciplinary tribunal which concluded on 9 October 2020 following charges of professional misconduct brought by the Bar Standards Board (BSB).
The tribunal's decision comes after a judge of the County Court found in December 2016 that Mr Ukiwa had deliberately, and in an attempt to deceive the court, wrongly stated the address of an individual during divorce proceedings in 2013, knowing that they had no connection with that address, and that someone else at that address would complete and return the acknowledgement of service with the intention of obtaining a divorce fraudulently.
The tribunal found that Mr Ukiwa had engaged in conduct which was: dishonest or otherwise discreditable to a barrister; prejudicial to the administration of justice; and likely to diminish public confidence in the legal profession or the administration of justice, or otherwise bring the legal profession into disrepute. The tribunal also found that Mr Ukiwa failed to fulfil his obligation to report the finding to the BSB.
Commenting on the order, a BSB spokesperson said: “Engaging in conduct which seeks to deceive the court, including where the barrister is a party to proceedings, is incompatible with the ethical standards that the public expect of the profession and continued membership of the Bar. The tribunal’s decision to disbar Mr Ukiwa reflects this.
The tribunal’s decision is open to appeal.
ENDS
Notes to editors
About Ehi Ukiwa
Ehi Ukiwa was called to the Bar of England and Wales by Middle Temple in October 2010.
About disciplinary tribunals
The appointment, operation, and decisions (including sentencing) of disciplinary tribunal panels are performed by the Bar Tribunals and Adjudication Service (BTAS). BTAS is run independently of the Bar Standards Board, the barristers' regulator. The BSB is responsible for bringing charges of professional misconduct against barristers, which BTAS tribunal panels then adjudicate. The sanctions imposed are a matter for the tribunal having regard to the facts of the individual case and the BTAS Sanctions Guidance which is endorsed by the Council of the Inns of Court.
About the Bar Standards Board
Our mission is to regulate barristers and specialised legal services businesses in England and Wales in the public interest. For more information about what we do visit: http://bit.ly/1gwui8t
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