By Mohamed Fitr/ABUJA// Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has formally submitted a petition to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee, seeking the disbarment of Senator Nedamwen Bernards Imasuen from the Nigerian Bar.
Her petition alleges professional misconduct, citing that Senator Imasuen was permanently disbarred from the New York Bar in 2010 due to fraud, misappropriation of client funds, and failure to cooperate with disciplinary authorities. According to the petition, his disbarment was ordered by the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department, following a complaint by a former client, Daphne Slyfield, who accused him of misappropriating legal fees.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan further claims that, despite his disbarment, Senator Imasuen relocated to Nigeria and continued to present himself as a legal practitioner while transitioning into politics. He later secured a seat representing Edo South Senatorial District and was appointed Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions—a position requiring the highest ethical standards.
Additionally, the petition alleges that Senator Imasuen failed to disclose his disbarment in his FORM EC-9 submission to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before running for office.
The legal action follows Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s recent six-month suspension from the Senate, which she attributes to Senator Imasuen’s actions. She contends that he orchestrated her suspension in defiance of a court order that had restrained the Senate Committee on Ethics from investigating her over alleged misconduct during a February 20, 2025, Senate session. Despite being served the court order on March 5, 2025, Senator Imasuen allegedly proceeded with the investigation, leading to her suspension the following day.
In her petition, she accuses Senator Imasuen of contempt of court and procedural bias, pointing out that he dismissed her sexual harassment petition against Senate President Godswill Akpabio on technical grounds while aggressively pursuing disciplinary action against her.
Citing multiple violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners (2023), she argues that Senator Imasuen’s actions amount to professional misconduct under Rule 74(1), warranting his removal from the Roll of Barristers and Solicitors of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
As the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee reviews the case, the petition is expected to fuel significant legal and political discourse, raising concerns about the ethical standards of public officials within the legal profession.
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