Just as he is facing police charges for assaulting his estranged wife, Nollywood actress, Victoria Inyama, he has been disbarred by the Bar Standard Board, a regulatory body for barristers and specialised legal services businesses in England and Wales, for dishonest conduct.
In a press statement which was released on February 22, 2018, the BSB revealed what led to the final decision by a tribunal to disbar Okri.
The press statement signed by the Bar Standard Board reads:
“Unregistered barrister Godwin Okri was ordered to be disbarred from the Bar of England and Wales at an independent disciplinary tribunal hearing held on Wednesday 21 February 2018, following charges brought by the Bar Standards Board.
The decision comes following dishonest and discreditable conduct on Mr Okri’s part in 2004 whilst he was acting in a conveyancing transaction as a solicitor. Mr Okri acted for both seller and buyer where a conflict of interest existed without the written consent of both parties.
In the process Mr Okri breached Money Laundering Regulations, ignored a Solicitors Regulation Authority warning on property fraud, and dishonestly assisted a third party in securing a property for substantially less than its market value.
Mr Okri was also found to have failed to cooperate with the Bar Standards Board (BSB) as he failed to notify the BSB when he was struck off the roll of solicitors in 2009.
Speaking about Wednesday’s Bar tribunal, a BSB spokesperson said: “This finding serves as a reminder to barristers that their professional conduct when practising as solicitors, or indeed as any other legal professionals, will be taken into account when considering their membership of the Bar. The tribunal’s decision to disbar Mr Okri reflects the seriousness of his actions when acting as a solicitor.
The tribunal’s decision is open to appeal.
Mr Okri was called to the Bar in 1995 by Lincoln’s Inn. He has never practised as a barrister in England and Wales.” (sic)
Recall that Nollywood actress, Victoria Inyama had two weeks ago, posted on Facebook that she had left her husband, Okri and seeking divorce which he didn’t agree to.
This prompted a friend, Mandy to comment and that made Victoria say more.
Victoria wrote:
”’D bondage is sickening and all his legal antics. They saw the law is fair but not when he manipulates it like he does. He has a live in lover and still wouldn’t divorce me! He assaulted me yesterday and d first time, I called the police on him.”
Married to Godwin, the duo met in London in 2003, at a show. They got married 12 years ago.
Godwin Okri is from a famous family: his brother, Ben Okri won the Booker Prize for Literature and was awarded MBE. Natalie Okri, Godwin’s daughter, was semi finalist of the 2008 Britain has Got Talent competition. Mike Okri is an R & B singer in the USA.
