- Safiu Kehinde
Suspended Kogi lawmaker, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has filed a petition before the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee, seeking the disbarment of Senator Nedamwen Imasuen from the Nigerian Bar.
Natasha had in the petition, accused Imasuen of professional misconduct, alleging that the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Code of Conduct, Privileges, and Public Petition was previously disbarred from the New York Bar for fraud, misappropriation of client funds, and failure to respond to disciplinary authorities.
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 Daphne Slyfield, a client who accused him of misappropriating legal fees.
The court reportedly found him guilty of multiple breaches of professional conduct, leading to the revocation of his legal license in the United States.
In her latest move over her agitation against her suspension, Akpoti-Uduaghan, in the petition, alleged that Imasuen relocated to Nigeria and continued presenting himself as a legal practitioner while venturing into politics.
The petition further stated 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.
Akpoti-Natasha described Imasuen’s actions as contempt of court, citing Rule 31 of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners (2023), which mandates that lawyers must always treat the court with respect, dignity, and honour.
Also contained in her petition were allegations against Imausen in connection to her suspension as recommended by the Senate ethics committee.
She accused the Edo lawmaker of procedural bias, stating that he dismissed her petition alleging sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio on procedural grounds, while actively pursuing disciplinary action against her.
Natasha also argued that Imasuen’s defiance of a subsisting court order and his unethical conduct violate Rule 1 of the Rules of Professional Conduct (2023), which mandates lawyers to uphold the rule of law and maintain high professional standards.
She contended that under Rule 74(1) of the RPC, 2023, Senator Imasuen’s actions constitute professional misconduct, warranting his removal from the Roll of Barristers and Solicitors of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.