Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently suspended, has lodged a petition with the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee, seeking the disbarment of Senator Nedamwen Bernards Imasuen from the Nigerian Bar.
The petition accuses Senator Imasuen of professional misconduct, alleging he was previously disbarred from the New York Bar for fraud, misappropriating client funds, and failing to cooperate with disciplinary authorities.
According to the petition, the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department, permanently disbarred him on May 10, 2010, after a complaint by his client, Daphne Slyfield, who accused him of misappropriating legal fees. The court found him guilty of multiple violations of professional ethics, leading to the revocation of his legal license in the U.S.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that, despite this disbarment, Senator Imasuen relocated to Nigeria and continued to present himself as a lawyer while pursuing a political career. He was later elected as the Senator representing Edo South Senatorial District and became Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions— a position requiring “unimpeachable integrity.”
The petition further asserts 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.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal action follows her six-month suspension from the Senate, which she claims was orchestrated by Senator Imasuen in defiance of a court order.
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 her over alleged misconduct during a plenary session on February 20, 2025. Despite being served the court order on March 5, 2025, Senator Imasuen and his committee proceeded with the investigation, leading to her suspension on March 6, 2025.
In her petition, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan described his actions as contempt of court, referencing Rule 31 of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners (2023), which requires lawyers to treat the court with “respect, dignity, and honour.”
She also accused him of procedural bias, noting that he dismissed her petition regarding alleged sexual harassment by Senate President Godswill Akpabio on procedural grounds while actively pursuing disciplinary action against her.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan argued that his defiance of a court order and unethical behavior violated Rule 1 of the Rules of Professional Conduct (2023), which mandates lawyers to uphold the rule of law and maintain high professional standards.
She further contended that, under Rule 74(1) of the RPC, 2023, his actions amount to professional misconduct, justifying his removal from the Roll of Barristers and Solicitors of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
As the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee begins reviewing the petition, the case is expected to ignite significant legal and political debate, especially concerning the ethical responsibilities of public officials who are also lawyers.
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