An Ipswich solicitor who jumped bail and fled to Nigeria to escape mortgage fraud charges has been jailed for four years.
Ajayi Seun is a new and high-profile entrant to RollOnFriday's Dodgy Solicitor Top Trumps. The former solicitor made Crimewatch's list of the top ten most wanted fraudsters after skipping bail last year. But he returned to the UK and handed himself in, pleading guilty to conspiracy to defraud for his part in a £5.5m mortgage scam, according to an EADT report.
The court was told that the fraud, which involved fictional identities and forged documents, saw £5.5m funnelled through the accounts of Seun's firm, Doves Solicitors. According to Judge Godwin borrowers were "badly stung" and lenders "massively defrauded".
It is alleged that the scam was orchestrated by Samuel Ajiboye, currently on the run in Nigeria, who according to Judge Godwin "needed a dishonest solicitor". And Seun fitted that bill. Jailing him for four years, the judge did not hold back, telling him "you are a disgrace and bring into disrepute your profession".
For a full round up of dodgy solicitors see the table below and if you've spotted one, you know where we are.
Tip Off ROF
Ajayi Seun is a new and high-profile entrant to RollOnFriday's Dodgy Solicitor Top Trumps. The former solicitor made Crimewatch's list of the top ten most wanted fraudsters after skipping bail last year. But he returned to the UK and handed himself in, pleading guilty to conspiracy to defraud for his part in a £5.5m mortgage scam, according to an EADT report.
The court was told that the fraud, which involved fictional identities and forged documents, saw £5.5m funnelled through the accounts of Seun's firm, Doves Solicitors. According to Judge Godwin borrowers were "badly stung" and lenders "massively defrauded".
It is alleged that the scam was orchestrated by Samuel Ajiboye, currently on the run in Nigeria, who according to Judge Godwin "needed a dishonest solicitor". And Seun fitted that bill. Jailing him for four years, the judge did not hold back, telling him "you are a disgrace and bring into disrepute your profession".
For a full round up of dodgy solicitors see the table below and if you've spotted one, you know where we are.
Name |
Jurisdiction |
Crime |
Sentence |
---|---|---|---|
Matthew Kluger, ex Skadden |
USA | Insider trading |
12 years |
Martin Weisberg, ex Bakers |
USA | $3m money laundering, securities fraud |
8 years expected |
Simon Morgan, ex Milners | England | Theft of £1.4 million | 7 years |
Kevin Steele, ex Mishcon |
England | £18.4m conspiracy |
5 1/2 years |
Louise Martini, ex Williamson & Soden |
England | Theft of £1.7m |
5 years |
Ajayi Seun, ex Doves Solicitors |
England | Fraud involving £5.5m |
4 years |
David O'Shea, ex O'Donovan |
Ireland | Theft of €779,000 |
4 years |
Kenneth Hunt, ex Hunt Kidd |
England | Theft of £1m |
4 years |
Christopher Grierson, ex Lovells |
England | Theft of £1.3m |
3 years |
Barbara Gayton, ex Hunt Kidd |
England | Theft of £1m |
2 years |
Andy Hodges, ex Fraser Brown/Challinors |
England | Theft of £70,000 |
18 months |
Emma Rowsell, ex CC |
England | Theft of £63,000 |
18 months |
Richard Simkin, ex Fulbright |
England | Theft of £100,000 |
16 months |
Judie Groom, ex CC |
England | Theft of £23,000 |
15 months |
Leonard Sawyer |
USA | Lewd acts |
180 days expected |
Partner who ran a red light, Hogan Lovells |
Dubai | Running a red light |
20 days |
Pissed trainee, Freshfields |
Dubai | Being pissed |
2 days |
Comments
390
390
408
387
392
369
[a]http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01ml8gh/Storyville_20112012_The_750_Million_Thief/[/a]
409
380
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/lawyer-guilty-of-conning-bank-out-of-millions-1806256.html
403
375