Natasha in petition asks LPDC to disbar Imasuen, says he’s not ethically fit to be a Senator
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Nedamwen Imasuen is not ethically fit to be a Senator, having returned to Nigeria and presenting himself as a legal practitioner after his disbarment in the United States for professional misconduct, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduagan has pointed out in a petition requesting his disbarment in Nigeria.
She alleged that Imasuen failed to disclose his criminal past in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) forms he filled to contest for his Senate seat.
Natasha, currently under suspension from the Senate on the recommendation of its Ethics Committee chaired by Imasuen, filed the petition before the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), seeking his disbarment.
Per SaharaReporters, the petition – grounded on the court verdict of professional misconduct – said:
- Imasuen was in 2010 disbarred from the New York Bar for fraud, misappropriation of client funds, and failure to respond to disciplinary authorities.
- He was permanently disbarred by the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department, on 10 May 2010, following a complaint by Daphne Slyfield, a client who accused him of misappropriating legal fees.
- The court found him guilty of multiple breaches of professional conduct, leading to the revocation of his legal licence in the United States.
- Despite his disbarment, Imasuen relocated to Nigeria and continues to present himself as a legal practitioner while venturing into politics.
- He was elected as the Senator representing Edo South Senatorial District and [Senate President Godswill Akpabio] appointed him Senate Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions Committee Chairman, a role requiring unimpeachable integrity.
- Imasuen failed to disclose his disbarment in his FORM EC-9 – Particulars of Personal Information submitted to the INEC – before contesting for public office.
The legal action comes on the heels of Natasha’s six-month suspension from the Senate, which she claims was orchestrated by Imasuen in defiance of a court order.
On 4 March 2025, Judge Obiora Egwatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja issued an interim order restraining the Senate Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions Committee from proceeding with an investigation against Natasha over alleged misconduct during a Senate plenary on February 20.
Despite being served the court order on March 5, Imasuen and his committee proceeded with the investigation, leading to her suspension on March 6.
Natasha in her petition to the LPDC:
- Described Imasuen’s actions as contempt of court, citing Rule 31 of the Rules of Professional Conduct (RPC) for Legal Practitioners (2023), which mandate that lawyers must always treat the court with respect, dignity, and honour.
- Accused him of procedural bias, arguing he dismissed her petition alleging sexual harassment against Akpabio on procedural grounds, while actively pursuing disciplinary action against her.
- Argued that Imasuen’s defiance of a subsisting court order and his unethical conduct violate Rule 1 of the RPC, which mandates lawyers to uphold the rule of law and maintain high professional standards.
- Contended that under Rule 74(1) of the RPC, Imasuen’s actions constitute professional misconduct, warranting his removal from the Roll of Barristers and Solicitors of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
Read also:
Senate Ethics Committee again uses procedural loopholes to reject Natasha’s petition against Akpabio
 forms){kind=link}