YEAR OF CALL 2008

‘John is unbelievably well prepared, courteous and unflappable.’

The Legal 500 2026

John Ojakovoh is a leading junior barrister recognised for his skill and leadership in prosecuting and defending complex cases across Serious Crime, Financial Crime, Corporate Crime, Fraud, Cybercrime, and Organised Crime. Known for his legal precision, strategic insight, and courtroom authority, John has been instructed in some of the most sensitive and high-profile cases of the last decade.

John is a Grade 4 advocate on the CPS specialist and general panels. and has been appointed to the SFO’s A Panel and instructed regarding SFO investigations. He has led teams in matters involving alleged multi-million-pound losses, and involving VAT, tax, duty, and property fraud, environmental offences, serious organised cyber attacks, cryptocurrency, blackmail, and national security. He is equally experienced defending directors, company executives, and alleged ringleaders of international criminal operations. His advisory work spans investigations into large-scale conspiracies, fraud against the government, tech-based threats, and corporate malpractice, as well as private prosecutions and Mutual Legal Assistance.

Notable Cases

Operation Maclura: R v PS (2024–2025)

Corporate Crime / Fraud – Led the politically sensitive prosecution of a former Solicitor of the Year for fraud in relation to £3m of Legal Aid arising from Iraq War claims. Managed complex LPP and crime/fraud privilege exception review and litigation. Convicted; confiscation ongoing.  Leading counsel.
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Operation Elaborate: R v TF (2023-2026)

Cybercrime / Fraud – Prosecuted the mastermind of the £100m ‘iSpoof’ fraud website, UK’s largest cyberfraud sting. Addressed sentencing at the top of the scale. Consecutive 13-year sentence upheld in Court of Appeal: [2023] EWCA Crim 945.  Confiscation ongoing. Led James Caldwell.
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R v VL & ORS (2025)

Defendant used five identities and companies to fraudulently sell £8.5m in properties. Notable for high-value, multi-offence TICs and complex asset flows into prestige cars and yacht. Guilty pleas entered; sentencing pending.  Leading Mahesh Karu
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R v X & ORS (2024–2025)

Cybercrime / Fraud – OCG hacked accounting firms to submit false tax refund claims to HMRC. Convictions secured through integration of technical, financial, and expert evidence.  Leading counsel

Operation Miching: R v W & ORS (2023-2026)

Prosecution of OCG that produced over 6.8 million counterfeit Xanax pills, sold online, and laundered proceeds via cryptocurrency. Total value exceeded £30m. Consecutive sentencing affirmed: [2023] EWCA Crim 1293.  Confiscation ongoing. Led Dominic Hockley
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Operation Belshazzar: R v JS & ORS (2020-2025)

Prosecution of Twelve-handed Class A drug conspiracies, arising out of Operation Venetic. Two trials and Newton hearing.  All convicted. Exceptional sentencing for ringleader. Confiscation and SCPO proceedings ongoing. Leading Edward Franklin

Operation Surmised: R v LG (2025)

Alleged founder of ‘Chuckling Squad’ accused of targeting celebrities and high-profile accounts. Complex digital forensics and arguments on hearsay admissibility.

Operation Lizard: R v X (2025)

Alleged founder probate fraud accused of purchasing estate property at an undervalue. Complex legal argument on applicability of s4(1)(a) of the Fraud Act 2006. Leading Amy Oliver.

R v RM & ORS (2024)

Fraud / Environmental Crime – Defended first-listed in 33-count indictment for fraudulent trading and unlawful waste disposal. Achieved sentencing on specific lower-value frauds in place of global fraudulent trading offences. Suspended sentence imposed.
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R v BF & ORS (2027)

Corporate Crime / FCA Prosecution – Defendant accused of defrauding £12m from a credit union, leading to £22m FSCS compensation. Charged with fraud by abuse of position and conspiracy to false account. Led by Jane Osborne KC
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Operation Genie: R v JD & ORS (2025)

Organised Crime / Drugs – Five-handed cocaine importation case involving airport security insider. Two defendants already sentenced; remaining three convicted after trial involving heavy telecoms evidence; sentencing pending. Leading Charles Drinnan
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R v AC (2023)

Defended company director of care home business in administration. Alleged fraudulent failure to pay employees’ PAYE and National Insurance. Acquittal, after prosecution offered no evidence. Leading counsel

R v T (2022)

Private prosecution and responding to Appeal against Conviction. Macmillan Cancer Support v Toogood [2022] EWCA Crim 633.

Operation Hygrology: R v HI (2022)

Weapons / Terrorism – Attempted Glock barrel importation, planning for 3D weapon manufacture. Successfully referred for unduly lenient sentence after written advice. Sentence increased: [2022] EWCA Crim 1156.
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