Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has formally petitioned the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee, seeking the disbarment of Senator Nedamwen Bernards Imasuen from the Nigerian Bar over allegations of professional misconduct.
In her petition, Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that Senator Imasuen, despite being disbarred in the United States, continued to present himself as a legal practitioner after relocating to Nigeria and later ventured into politics. He was subsequently elected as the Senator representing Edo South Senatorial District and appointed Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions—a role that demands unimpeachable integrity.
According to the petition, Imasuen was permanently disbarred by the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department, on May 10, 2010, following a complaint by a client, Daphne Slyfield, who accused him of misappropriating legal fees. The court found him guilty of multiple breaches of professional conduct, leading to the revocation of his legal license in the United States.
Akpoti-Uduaghan further alleged that 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 public office.
Her petition comes in the wake of 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 proceeding with an investigation against her regarding alleged misconduct during a Senate 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.
Akpoti-Uduaghan argued that Senator Imasuen’s defiance of the court order and continued legal practice despite his disbarment violated the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners (2023). She specifically cited Rule 31, which mandates lawyers to treat the court with respect, dignity, and honor, and Rule 1, which requires legal practitioners to uphold the rule of law and maintain high ethical standards.
Additionally, she accused Imasuen of procedural bias, noting that while he dismissed her petition alleging sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio on procedural grounds, he aggressively pursued disciplinary action against her.
She contended that under Rule 74(1) of the RPC (2023), Imasuen’s actions constitute professional misconduct, warranting his removal from the Roll of Barristers and Solicitors of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
As the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee begins its review of the petition, the case is expected to generate intense legal and political scrutiny, particularly regarding the ethical responsibilities of public officials who are also members of the legal profession.
