The credibility of Nigeria’s leadership has come under renewed scrutiny following revelations that Senator Neda Imasuen, chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, was permanently disbarred in New York, United States, over allegations of fraud and professional misconduct.
According to a report by Peoples Gazette, it indicates that Imasuen, who played a pivotal role in recommending the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti, lost his law licence after absconding with multimillion-dollar legal fees without fulfilling his professional duties.
A U.S. court officer confirmed that Imasuen was found guilty of gross ethical violations, including collecting legal fees from a client, Daphne Shyfield, in 2009 and failing to appear in court on her behalf. His refusal to cooperate with the disciplinary panel investigating his actions led to his lifetime disbarment.
Despite multiple petitions and disciplinary proceedings, Imasuen ignored summonses and eventually fled to Nigeria, evading accountability for his actions.
The New York Grievance Committee for the Second, Eleventh, and Thirteenth Judicial Districts formally struck his name from the roll of attorneys on May 10, 2010, barring him from any legal practice within the jurisdiction.
His return to Nigeria, however, marked the beginning of a different career trajectory. In 2023, Imasuen leveraged the platform of the Labour Party to secure the Edo South senatorial seat and rose to chair the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions—an irony that has fueled public outrage given his own history of evading disciplinary action.
This controversy gained further traction following his handling of a sexual harassment petition filed by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Initially, Imasuen dismissed the petition on procedural grounds, only to later accept it after it was resubmitted with additional endorsements. His selective application of ethical standards has further intensified debates on the integrity of Nigeria’s political system.
Imasuen’s case is not an isolated one. His disbarment echoes similar scandals involving Nigerian politicians with checkered pasts abroad, including President Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, who lost his legal licence in Georgia, U.S., after admitting to financial misconduct.
The exposure of Imasuen’s disbarment serves as yet another reminder of the deep-rooted challenges in Nigeria’s political landscape, where individuals with questionable pasts often ascend to powerful positions.
The unfolding saga raises pressing concerns about governance, accountability, and the standards upheld by those entrusted with legislative oversight in the country.
