Suspended senator Natasha seeks disbarment of Imasuen over alleged misconduct

Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has formally petitioned the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), seeking the disbarment of Senator Nedamwen Bernards Imasuen from the Nigerian Bar over allegations of professional misconduct.

In her petition, Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that Imasuen was previously disbarred from the New York Bar for fraud, misappropriation of client funds, and failure to cooperate with disciplinary authorities.

She cited a ruling by the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department, which permanently revoked his legal license on May 10, 2010. The decision followed a complaint by a client, Daphne Slyfield, who accused Imasuen of misappropriating legal fees.

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Despite this, she alleged that Imasuen relocated to Nigeria, continued presenting himself as a legal practitioner, and eventually ventured into politics.

He now serves as the Senator representing Edo South Senatorial District and chairs the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions a position Akpoti-Uduaghan insists demands unquestionable integrity.

She further claimed that Senator Imasuen failed to disclose his disbarment in his FORM EC-9, Particulars of Personal Information, submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before contesting for office.

The petition follows Akpoti-Uduaghan’s recent six-month suspension from the Senate, which she alleges was orchestrated by Imasuen despite a court order barring the process.

On March 4, 2025, Justice Obiora Atuegwu Egwatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja issued an interim order restraining the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from investigating Akpoti-Uduaghan over alleged misconduct during a February 20 plenary session.

However, despite being served the order on March 5, Imasuen and his committee proceeded with the investigation, leading to her suspension on March 6.

Akpoti-Uduaghan has described his actions as contempt of court, citing Rule 31 of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners (2023), which mandates respect for judicial orders.

She also accused him of procedural bias, alleging that while he dismissed her petition of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio on technical grounds, he pursued disciplinary action against her.

She argued that Senator Imasuen’s disregard for a valid court order and his unethical conduct violate Rule 1 of the Rules of Professional Conduct (2023), which requires lawyers to uphold the rule of law and maintain high professional standards.

According to her, under Rule 74(1) of the RPC, 2023, his actions amount to professional misconduct, warranting his removal from the Roll of Barristers and Solicitors of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.