Paralegal sacked for recording just SIX MINUTES of work in a month sued for racism after a colleague sent him an article criticising Prince Harry
A paralegal who billed just six minutes of work in a month at a top London law firm sued his employers for racism after a colleague sent him a newspaper article criticising Prince Harry.Kelechi Nwabueze was dismissed by Simons Rodkin Solicitors LLP in London in August 2023 after a devastating appraisal found his work to be slow, error-strewn and nearly worthless.He responded by filing 20 separate discrimination claims against the firm, its senior partners and a music industry consultant.But a judge threw out every single one, finding that he had lied to the tribunal, invented evidence and used AI to cite court cases that do not exist.Mr Nwabueze, who worked at the firm on a zero-hours contract, had billed so little work that in three separate months he recorded just six minutes of billable time.Over the course of his entire employment he recorded 686 billing units in total. A colleague doing a comparable role clocked 10,909 in the same period - more than fifteen times as many.Rather than accept the verdict of his employers, he spent the next two years pursuing the firm, its two senior partners and a music industry consultant through the Employment Tribunal, filing 20 separate claims of race discrimination, whistleblowing victimisation, harassment and unfair dismissal.Among his allegations was the claim that a colleague had committed an act of racial harassment by sending him a newspaper column by veteran journalist Jeremy Paxman that was critical of Prince Harry. Kelechi Nwabueze (pictured) was dismissed by Simons Rodkin Solicitors LLP in London in August 2023The tribunal heard that Mr Nwabueze had spent months enthusiastically hosting what colleagues described as an unofficial office 'chatshow' about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, urging staff to watch the couple's Netflix documentary.When colleague Simon Cooper - who said he had watched two episodes of the documentary at Mr Nwabueze's urging - sent him the Paxman article offering an alternative view, Mr Nwabueze claimed it was a covert racial threat.It was, he told the tribunal, a coded message warning him to stay silent about racism. Employment Judge Hyams disagreed, finding that Mr Cooper had simply wanted to offer 'a balanced view.'Mr Nwabueze also alleged that music consultant David Nash had referred to the firm as a 'white boys club' - a phrase he said amounted to unlawful harassment.Mr Nash denied ever using the words.Having heard both men give evidence, the tribunal found that Mr Nash had not said them and that the allegation appeared to have been fabricated by Mr Nwabueze in retaliation for a damning performance review.He further claimed that trainee solicitor Priya Varsani had racially harassed him by sending a staff email about an office trip to Woburn Safari Park that included a picture of a monkey and a crude joke.Ms Varsani said she had done a basic internet search for safari jokes and used the first result she found.The barrister appointed by the firm to investigate Mr Nwabueze's grievances said it was 'clearly a joke connected with the staff outing to the safari park.'The tribunal agreed.During the three-day appraisal meeting, Mr Nwabueze filed a formal complaint alleging that partner Michael Abraham had made a racist 'gangster rapper gesture' towards him.The tribunal was shown the video, which revealed Mr Abraham simply demonstrating - by waving his hand - how Mr Nwabueze himself had walked into the office excitedly after a phone call with HMRC.Judge Hyams described it as an 'Ali G type gesture' that was 'not mimicry and not in any way denigratory.'The conduct of Mr Nwabueze during the tribunal proceedings themselves drew equally pointed criticism from the judge.When he told the tribunal on the first day of the hearing that his witness statement was ready to send, the tribunal expected to receive it promptly - but it did not arrive until 8am the following morning. The tribunal heard that Mr Nwabueze (pictured) had spent months enthusiastically hosting what colleagues described as an unofficial office 'chatshow' about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex When colleague Simon Cooper (pictured) - who said he had watched two episodes of the documentary at Mr Nwabueze's urging - sent him the Paxman article offering an alternative view, Mr Nwabueze claimed it was a covert racial threatMr Nwabueze explained the delay by citing, in succession, a ceiling leak at his home, a forgotten password, a sick child and the effects of his dyslexia.The tribunal noted he had arrived at the hearing that day carrying his laptop.More seriously, the judge found that Mr Nwabueze had deliberately lied to the tribunal about a medical emergency.He had told the court he had been advised to attend Watford General Hospital 'with a reference number within one hour.'The tribunal asked to see the evidence, but the document produced contained no reference number.Its medical guidance was limited to four points: sit upright, take paracetamol, use prescribed inhalers if applicable, and call back if symptoms worsen.Employment Judge Hyams concluded that Mr Nwabueze's claim of an urgent hospital referral was 'a deliberate attempt to mislead us.'His legal submissions fared no better.The tribunal noted that Mr Nwabueze appeared to have used artificial intelligence to draft his legal arguments - and that the AI had cited court cases which, when the judge came to look for them, did not exist.Mr Nwabueze obtained a formal dyslexia diagnosis in January 2026, during the tribunal's own deliberations, and attempted to use it to reopen his case.The tribunal declined, noting that he had sent lengthy, articulate emails throughout the entirety of the proceedings.All 20 of his claims - race discrimination, whistleblowing victimisation, harassment and unfair dismissal - were dismissed in full.The firm has indicated it intends to apply for costs.
