Louis Browne KC successfully acts for European banking institution in contempt of court proceedings

October 30, 2024

Louis Browne KC, instructed by GQ Littler, has successfully acted for Commerzbank in contempt of court proceedings.

High Court Judge Mrs Justice Eady granted Commerzbank permission to bring a contempt case against Damilare Ajao, a former analyst, after the Employment Tribunal found that he had fabricated sexual assault allegations to strengthen his employment tribunal claims against the bank.

Mrs Justice Eady said that it was important that allegations of making a false complaint go before the court.

Commerzbank’s application to bring contempt proceedings came after Ajao lost his Employment Tribunal claims of harassment, sexual harassment, victimization and race discrimination in April. The tribunal concluded that some of his allegations were “pure invention” and that “the acts and events on which he relies did not happen.”

Judge Anthony Snelson said in the tribunal’s ruling it was “hard to imagine a more obvious case of unreasonable conduct in the bringing and pursuit of litigation.”

Louis Browne KC argued that there was a strong public interest in the contempt application, partly because Ajao tried to claim almost £130,000 in the tribunal and had therefore fabricated allegations for “purely personal gain.”

Mrs Justice Eady said that Ajao will face trial over the allegedly false allegations and accusations that he fabricated a work diary to support bogus claims.