The controversial solicitor representing the brothers who were ‘attacked’ by police at Manchester Airport boasts of having a £1m car collection and of being ‘the best defence lawyer in the UK’.
Akhmed Yakoob, 36, has 200,000 followers on TikTok and regularly posts videos wearing Prada trainers, a glittering diamond watch, tinted gold-framed sunglasses and Gareth Southgate-like waistcoats.
The Lamborghini-loving father-of-four uses the platform to post polished clips in which he tells followers he is ‘the best defence lawyer in the UK’ and ‘there is a defence for every offence.
He has admitted to using TikTok to find clients and posts videos of his flamboyant lifestyle wearing designer clothing, a glittering diamond watch and tinted gold-framed sunglasses.
Mr Yakoob stood as an Independent candidate in the Birmingham Ladywood constituency on a pro-Gaza, anti-Labour platform at the last General Election. He also has close links to George Galloway’s Workers Party of Britain.
Lawyer Akhmed Yakoob pictured at the count for the West Midlands Mayoral Election in May where he stood as a pro-Gaza independent candidate
Mr Yakoob pictured outside Rochdale Police Station on Thursday as he announced he was representing two men who were arrested at Manchester Airport on Tuesday
The Birmingham-based solicitor has shared photos of himself online next to a string of expensive cars including Lamborghinis
Lawyer Akhmed Yakoob (centre) with Fahir and Amaad Khan. He has said ‘justice must prevail’ after footage of the Manchester Airport incident went viral
But he has courted controversy by teaching people how to frustrate police interviews and bragging about getting a reduced sentence for drug dealers.
The lawyer has been accused of promoting false claims of racism against a teacher, something which has seen him put under investigation by the solicitors’ regulator.
He was also slammed for joking about violence against woman and defending self-style misogynist Andrew Tate.
In response to a fellow podcast guest saying he would give his wife a ‘backhander’ if she made money dancing on TikTok, Mr Yakoob replied: ‘Brother, are you saying if she comes up in your personal space, you will defend yourself?’
He was also slammed for joking about violence against woman and comments made about a number of LGBT issues.
In a video interview broadcast last year, Mr Yakoob was introduced as ‘the most famous solicitor in the world right now’ by Mikey Melin, the host of YouTube documentary channel The Blue Tick Show.
In the interview, Mr Yakoob said: ‘What if a man goes into the ladies’ bathroom and says, ”I’m not a man, I’m a woman”.
‘Well if my wife’s in there I’m sparking him out. And there ain’t no defence for that offence.’ Laughter followed before Mr Melin added: ‘I would accept the time, f*** it, put me inside.’
Mr Yakoob also revealed that he had pulled his children out of state education and put them into an Islamic school because he did not want them being exposed to ‘LGBT messages.’
He insisted that he and any Muslim cannot ‘promote’ positive LGBT issues because doing so is prohibited in their faith – a claim that was condemned by some faith leaders, academics and gay Muslims.
Akhmed Yakoob gives a press conference outside Rochdale Police Station on Thursday as he claims a man kicked in the head by police has a cyst on the brain following the incident
The solicitor was pictured cosying up to George Galloway in campaign literature during the July general election
The flashy lawyer has posted images on social media of his expensive car collection after previously saying how his parents tried to put him off going to university
Mr Yakoob has developed a strong following online speaking out about the conflict in Gaza and racism in Britain, and ran his election campaign as being outside the main political parties
Speaking to Mr Melin, Mr Yakoob said: ‘I’ve got no issue with this LGBTQ. I don’t promote it. I can’t promote it. You [Mr Melin] can’t promote it, we can’t promote it because we are Muslim.
‘We can’t promote it because it’s been told, we’ve been told, God has sent down a message… people should be able to do what they like, yeah, but not try to enforce their views and opinions on other people’s kids. I don’t like this being taught in schools – I hate it.’
Mr Yakoob added: ‘I have now pulled my kids out of school. Now they are in Islamic schools because I can’t have that around me. Regardless of what religion you are, a young girl or a young boy should not be taught about different genders that you can change your gender.’
The controversial criminal defence lawyer once revealed that he grew up on a crime-ridden council estate in Aston, Birmingham and was kicked out of school at the age of 15.
He revealed that his family were opposed to him going to university and told him that he would not amount to anything.
He said: ‘My parents always told me I couldn’t do it. They didn’t want to me to go to university because they told me I’d fail. It made me want it even more.’
After being expelled from school, he studied at home to pass his exams.
The budding solicitor was accepted at Wolverhampton University, where he got his Bachelor of Laws degree, graduating with a 2:2.
From then on, Mr Yakoob said he scraped through jobs, borrowing money from two friends to raise the £9,000 he needed for a legal practice course.
He worked for free at a local firm before getting a job at Maurice Andrews Solicitors, but said he had run-ins with his boss who he claims told him he couldn’t speak English properly.
He said: ‘My boss told me I was good for nothing. I had to prove everyone wrong, and I’ve done that now.’
At 28, Mr Yakoob was able to buy the Maurice Andrews Solicitors practice for £150,000 after getting approved for a bank loan, becoming his own boss.
Mr Yakoob joined protesters outside Rochdale Police Station late last night in an anti-racism protest
Footage of the attack – which also appeared to show Fahir and brother Amaad’s mother being shoved by officers – went viral online
Fahir Khan, 19, was kicked in the head by a Greater Manchester Police officer as he was restrained on the ground at Manchester Airport
Family say Fahir is awaiting a CT scan after the incident. His brother Amaad said his younger sibling was ‘in a bad way’
On his Instagram account which has nearly 140,000 followers, he describes himself as ‘Feared by a Few, Liked by Many, Respected by All, Disrespected by NONE!!’
He has posted videos of himself on TikTok with expensive cars including Lamborghinis and designer brand clothes, watches and sunglasses.
In recent months he has become more involved in politics, running in the West Midlands Mayoral Election in May as an independent pro-Gaza candidate. He would come third with nearly 70,000 votes.
He was heavily criticised after he wrongly accused a teacher of using a racist slur while she was canvassing for Labour during the council elections, posting a video on social media naming the 27-year-old and the school she worked at.
Afterwards the woman and her school were subject to hundreds of messages, many of which were abusive and some of which contained death threats and calls for her to be sacked.
A media investigation found that a video of the incident had misled viewers by putting incorrect captions on top of the footage, with police concluding there was no evidence of racist language.
Following this Mr Yakoob was put under investigation by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, which is the industry watchdog, the results of which have not been determined yet.
Then in July he ran as an independent candidate, again on a pro-Gaza platform, in the constituency of Birmingham Ladywood. He came second with 33 per cent of the vote and just 3,000 votes behind the Labour winner, Shadbana Mahmood.
The lawyer was present as protesters gathered outside Rochdale Police Station last night to demonstrate against the actions of police who arrested two men at Manchester Airport.
Mr Yakoob claimed that one of the men, who are brothers, had been diagnosed with a cyst on the brain after being kicked in the face and stamped on the head by a police officer during the incident.
Giving an update this afternoon, Mr Yakoob, representing the brothers, said: ‘It was something that hasn’t been seen before, such police brutality.
‘I can tell you now that the people who were assaulted by the police are members of a police officer’s family, who is currently serving in the Greater Manchester Police force.
‘This man is now afraid to go to work. He went in today and spoke to his supervisor. And the only reason he is not going to work because he is fearing for his own safety and he thinks like his family members who are the victims, he could be a victim.
‘In relation to the investigation, the IOPC are involved. And I’ve just finished with a meeting from them. The family are okay but they are traumatised.
‘Mohammed Fahir, his medical condition has worsened since last night. A CT scan has revealed there is a cyst on his brain. So please pray for his well being.
‘Right now the main concern for us for me is that the family receive justice and this no longer happens again.
‘Just imagine a first time visitor to the UK and they get to see the brutality from the UK police – they will not want to visit the UK again.
‘Well I wouldn’t if I see that sort of brutality by people who were meant to be the protectors of the public and not aggressors and oppressors.
‘So it’s early stages right now, and I can’t go too much into the actual investigation. But I’m sure everyone here is here because they have seen the videos.’
Greater Manchester Police says the incident took place after three officers were injured when they responded to reports of an assault at the airport, with one female PC receiving a broken nose.
The force has suspended an officer from all duties pending an investigation, referring itself to the IOPC watchdog, which has vowed to carry out a ‘robust’ investigation.
