Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti has submitted a petition to the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee, calling for an investigation into Edo lawmaker Neda Imasuen for allegedly disobeying a court ruling and concealing his criminal records, as well as his disbarment in New York, from Nigeria’s electoral body, INEC.
In her petition, received by the disciplinary committee on Monday, Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan stated that Mr Imasuen, who chairs the Senate Ethics Committee, has questions to answer following a report by Peoples Gazette detailing how the New York Supreme Court revoked his law licence in May 2010 after he absconded with client Daphne Slyfield’s legal fees without providing any representation.
The Kogi senator accused Mr Imasuen of intentionally omitting this information from his INEC EC-9 form, thereby depriving his constituents and the wider Nigerian public of critical insights into his background and past interactions with the U.S. government.
Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan pointed out that Mr Imasuen, “despite his disbarment due to unethical conduct,” launched his political career in Nigeria and was appointed to chair the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, a role that demands unimpeachable integrity.
She added: “The respondent did not remotely disclose his disbarment in his Form EC-9—Particulars of Personal Information submitted to INEC on oath when aspiring for public office.”
Furthermore, Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan highlighted Mr Imasuen’s alleged disregard for a court ruling which had protected her from investigation and potential sanction by the Senate pending a decision on a suit regarding allegations of misconduct for speaking from an unassigned seat.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court issued an ex-parte ruling on March 5, restraining the Senate Ethics Committee from penalising Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan.
However, according to the Kogi senator, Mr Imasuen acknowledged Justice Egwuatu’s ruling but chose to disregard it, arguing that the legislative arm was not obligated to comply with directives from another branch of government.
“They presented to me a motion along with a court order attempting to halt this committee from performing its duties. This is unacceptable,” Mr Imasuen stated. “We must make it clear that our constitution upholds the concept of separation of powers.”
As a result, he recommended Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan’s six-month suspension to the Senate on March 6.
The embattled legislator contended that Mr Imasuen’s actions violated Section 31 of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Lawyers, stipulating that “a lawyer shall always treat the court with respect, dignity and honour.”
Peoples Gazette had reported exclusively, how Mr Imasuen allegedly orchestrated a significant bank heist in the United States before fleeing to Nigeria to launch a successful political career, as revealed in a review of U.S. court filings.
