International
Onasanya, Nigerian-Born Ex-British MP, Banned From Practising As A Lawyer In UK
Nigerian-born former British Labour member of parliament, Fiona Onasanya, was struck off as a solicitor on Tuesday, August 6 after being jailed for lying to avoid a speeding fine.
The lawyer was clocked doing 41mph in a 30mph zone on The Causeway in Thorney, Cambridgeshire, shortly after 10pm on 24 July 2017 – but told police she was not behind the wheel.
She claimed she was not driving and was jailed for three months following an Old Bailey trial for perverting the course of justice, losing her parliamentary seat shortly afterwards.
The former MP, who arrived for the hearing with her mother Paulina, told a disciplinary tribunal on Tuesday she is innocent – but was still struck off the roll of solicitors.
Edward Nally, chairman of a three-member panel at the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal in central London, said: “As a parliamentarian makes the law so a solicitor must uphold the law and rule of law, and sadly in this case, Ms Onasanya has failed in those duties.
“We must strike off Ms Onasanya from the roll of solicitors.”
The tribunal found she acted dishonestly, failed to act with integrity and failed to behave in a way that maintains the trust the public places in her.
But Onasanya, 35, earlier told the Solicitor’s Disciplinary Tribunal: “I always said and I maintain that I did not do an act intending and intended to pervert the course of justice. I have pointed out that it was not said that I was driving the car that was not part of the issue.”
Having been found guilty of the charges she will now argue against being struck off and having to pay £22,762 in costs for 40 hours work by Solicitors’ Regulatory Authority.
Onasanya, who rose to party whip while serving as the member of parliament, represented herself at hearing and appeared at the tribunal with her mum.
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