Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently under suspension, has taken a significant step by submitting a petition to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee against Senator Nedamwen Bernard Imasuen. Her petition seeks to have Senator Imasuen disbarred from the Nigerian Bar due to allegations of professional misconduct.
The crux of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition lies in the claim that Senator Imasuen was previously disbarred from the New York Bar for serious infractions, including fraud, misappropriation of client funds, and non-compliance with disciplinary authorities. This disbarment occurred on May 10, 2010, when the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department, permanently revoked Senator Imasuen’s legal license following a complaint from a client named Daphne Slyfield.
Despite his disbarment in the United States, Senator Imasuen transitioned to Nigeria and continued to practice law while also venturing into politics. He eventually secured a position as the Senator for the Edo South Senatorial District and was appointed as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions – a role that demands the highest standards of integrity.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition raises concerns about Senator Imasuen’s failure to disclose his disbarment on his FORM EC-9 submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before his election to office. This omission casts a shadow over the integrity of his candidacy and subsequent tenure in the Senate.
The legal action taken by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan follows her own suspension from the Senate, which she alleges was orchestrated by Senator Imasuen in defiance of a court order. The Federal High Court in Abuja issued an interim order prohibiting the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from pursuing an investigation into her alleged misconduct, yet Senator Imasuen proceeded with the investigation leading to her suspension.
In her petition, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan accuses Senator Imasuen of contempt towards the court, citing his disregard for a standing court order as a violation of professional conduct rules. She also highlights instances of procedural bias, alleging that he dismissed her sexual harassment petition against Senate President Godswill Akpabio while actively pursuing disciplinary action against her.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan argues that Senator Imasuen’s actions constitute professional misconduct under the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners (2023) and warrant his removal from the Roll of Barristers and Solicitors of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. The gravity of these allegations underscores the importance of upholding ethical standards and the rule of law within the legal profession.
As this legal battle unfolds, the outcome will not only impact the individuals involved but also serve as a litmus test for the integrity and accountability of legal practitioners in Nigeria. Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition against Senator Imasuen marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing discourse surrounding professional ethics and accountability within the legal profession.
