Na law firm partner wey dey called John Kishin Navani don dey punish junior female staff for not bringing sweets back from holiday. The man wey be co-founder of Criminal Defence Solicitors LLP for City don dey bully and harass five women between 2016 and 2019.
According to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT), Navani dey click fingers and shout “oi” to call staff. One caseworker, wey dem call Person A, say when she dey on client call, Navani click finger, point at her and shout “oi cunt” across office before hanging up her phone.
Na the treats matter dey cause wahala. When Person A return from holiday without sweets, Navani convene disciplinary meeting, call her “not a team player” and give her official warning. Person B say after she come back from her grandfather funeral, Navani ask “you don’t look sad, did you bring back any treats?” Person D too, when she return from leave to visit sick grandparents, Navani say “You’re back. Where are the treats?”
The man also dey worry about staff pregnancy. When Person A go hospital for fertility issue, Navani tell her “at least you won’t need to take maternity leave.” During interview for Person D, he ask if she get boyfriend and if she plan to marry, saying “I’m trying to figure out when you’re going to go on maternity leave.” Person D take the job because training contracts for criminal law dey scarce.
Person C, wey start as paralegal before pupillage, say Navani show her CV of applicant and say the person “very sexy” and that he dey “always looking for a wife.” He also tell her say her eczema look “disgusting” and ask if e dey “catchy.” When she disclose medical issue, he give her boxes of “Well Woman 70+” vitamins for office, wey she find humiliating. He even call her “Apple whore” when she dey help with technical issue.
One of the worst case na with Person E, an intern. After office Christmas party for December 2018, Navani offer to drop her at station but instead take her to him flat. Inside, he dim lights, adjust sofa to recline, offer drink and propose meditation. Despite her say she want go, he eventually ask for hug and kiss before she leave. The tribunal find this conduct sexually motivated.
The SDT find 43 out of 50 allegations proved. They say the women be “truthful and honest witnesses” but Navani evidence be “particularly lacking in credibility.” He initially claim the women fabricate and collude, but later change story for hearing.
As punishment, the SDT give Navani 12-month suspension, but suspend am for two years. Dem also ban am from conducting recruitment interviews and disciplinary meetings for two years. The tribunal say strike-off would be disproportionate because no dishonesty or misuse of client funds, and the incidents be “spontaneous and opportunistic.”
The Bar Standards Board don remove the firm authorization to offer pupillage since 2019. The SRA dey seek £163,950 costs from Navani.
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor @ nnn.ng
