Solicitor who withheld passports from former client told to return them
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Ashimedua Okonkwo
A solicitor who refused to return a mother and daughter’s passports because of a dispute over €1,500 has been told she must hand them over.
Mr Justice Peter Kelly, president of the High Court, said it was “disproportionate and wholly unreasonable” to withhold the documents over such a “miniscule” sum of money, The Irish Times reports.
Solicitor Ashimedua Okonkwo of Cyril & Co Solicitors has allegedly held the passports and other personal documents since late 2017.
Counsel for Ms Okonkwo told the High Court that she was entitled to exercise a claim or lien over the documents because the mother owed her €1,500 fees plus VAT.
The Law Society’s complaints and client relations committee (CCRC) had recommended the passports be returned, the court heard.
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