ABUJA, Nigeria – Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the suspended lawmaker representing Kogi Central, has formally petitioned the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) for the disbarment of Senator Nedamwen Bernards Imasuen from the Nigerian Bar Association.
The petition, based on allegations of professional misconduct, accuses Imasuen of a history of serious ethical breaches, including his disbarment from the New York Bar.
According to the petition, Senator Imasuen was permanently disbarred by the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, on May 10, 2010, after he was found guilty of fraud, misappropriation of client funds, and failure to respond to disciplinary authorities.
The disbarment followed a complaint filed by his client, Daphne Slyfield, who accused him of misappropriating legal fees.
The court’s findings led to the revocation of Imasuen’s legal license in the United States.
Despite this, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan claims that Senator Imasuen relocated to Nigeria, where he continued to present himself as a legal practitioner and later ventured into politics.
Imasuen was subsequently elected as the Senator for Edo South Senatorial District and appointed Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition argues that his position in this committee, which requires high ethical standards, is incompatible with his past conduct.
The petition also contends that Imasuen failed to disclose his disbarment in his FORM EC-9, submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before he contested for public office.
This, according to Akpoti-Uduaghan, represents a serious violation of ethical and professional obligations.
The legal action comes after Akpoti-Uduaghan’s own suspension from the Senate. She claims the suspension was orchestrated by Imasuen in defiance of a court order issued by the Federal High Court in Abuja on March 4, 2025.
Justice Obiora Atuegwu Egwatu had issued an interim order restraining the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from investigating Akpoti-Uduaghan regarding alleged misconduct during a Senate plenary session on February 20, 2025.
Despite being served with this court order on March 5, 2025, Senator Imasuen and his committee proceeded with the investigation, which resulted in Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension the following day.
In her petition, Akpoti-Uduaghan accuses Imasuen of 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.
She also alleges procedural bias, claiming that Imasuen dismissed her sexual harassment petition against Senate President Godswill Akpabio on procedural grounds, while actively pursuing disciplinary action against her.
Akpoti-Uduaghan further argues that Imasuen’s actions violate Rule 1 of the Rules of Professional Conduct (2023), which calls for lawyers to uphold the rule of law and maintain high professional standards.
She contends that under Rule 74(1), his actions amount to professional misconduct, thus warranting his removal from the Roll of Barristers and Solicitors of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
