Solicitor branded incompetent by High Court judge

Abbot Ozuzu was reported to the Legal Services Commission by a High Court judge because his work was "not competent".

Mr Justice Goldring halted an asylum hearing at the High Court in frustration after legal papers ordered for the case failed to arrive.

He was so angry he told the barrister for Ugandan asylum seeker Samwiri Ganfa: "I have come to the conclusion on the evidence of this case and its total history that your solicitors are not competent to deal with it.

"I propose that my observations be transcribed and sent to the Legal Services Commission."

The outburst was the latest blow to Mr Ozuzu's one-man law firm in south-east London which had already been removed from the asylum legal aid system. It was refused a contract by the LSC after being found to be in the lowest possible category in its audit system - category three - meaning it was "poor quality and over-claiming".

Despite that, Mr Ozuzu appealed against the ruling. Officials considering his application are to use the judge's comments to support their refusal.

The LSC's Crispin Passmore said: "We have already taken serious action against Abbot & Co.

"We will consider the transcript of Mr Justice Goldring's comments seriously."

Mr Ozuzu was not available for comment.