Tribunal suspends solicitor

2:47pm Thursday 29th June 2006

A Croydon solicitor who let his firm's accounts fall into disarray as he handled £430,000 of his clients' cash was suspended for two years yesterday (Tuesday).

Gbenga Ogurinde, 37, failed to keep his books properly balanced while looking after money for more than 100 customers.

Ledgers were in such a mess due to accounting blunders a Law Society inspector could not decipher the true financial state of the firm.

The Solicitors' Disciplinary Tribunal heard the serious shortcomings' were revealed during an inspection in May 2004 at Ogurinde's firm O S Johnson and Co in Church Street, Croydon.

Despite being supplied with more paperwork when he returned two months later, the inspector was unable to determine the full economic situation at the practice.

At the tribunal Ogurinde said: "We are a young practice. This has caused considerable hardship to my private and professional life because of the tension and pressure that this has caused."

Ogurinde admitted an allegation of failing to comply with the accounts rules.