A former solicitor who was struck off 16 years ago has had his application for restoration refused by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.
Cyprian Akpelishi Amgbah, admitted in June 2002, was struck off in 2009 after the SDT found 13 allegations, including six involving dishonesty, proved. The proven allegations centered on breaches of accounts and anti-money laundering rules. Amgbah’s subsequent appeal was rejected by the Court of Appeal.
The SDT judgment acknowledged Amgbah’s application for restoration was ‘not premature’ and the former solicitor ‘had undertaken relevant and meaningful work in the profession since 2020, following permission for approval; employment granted by the SRA’.
It added: ‘The matters leading to the applicant removal from the roll were of the utmost gravity in view of the proven allegations of dishonesty.’
Referring to Amgbah’s evidence of his participation in professional courses and training as part of his rehabilitation, the judgment said: ‘The tribunal noted that there was a flurry of this type of training activity in advance of his regulatory application, rather than a consistent pattern of training over time.
‘The tribunal found that this did not demonstrate a sustained commitment to maintaining and updating his knowledge and remaining abreast of developments in legal practice.
‘[Amgbah] had clearly taken positive steps towards rehabilitation however the weight that could be attached to this was impacted by the applicant’s failure to support what had been said in evidence with supporting documentary material.’
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Refusing the restoration application, the SDT said that based on the evidence before it, ‘the high threshold for restoration to the roll was not met’.
Amgbah was also ordered to pay £4,709.49 costs.
