AdminNeda Imasuen, chair of the Senate Committee on Ethics that recommended Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension, has been stripped of his bar licence in New York, U.S., over allegations of multimillion-dollar fraud and gross misconduct.
A document seen by Prime Business Africa showed that Mr Imasuen had been disbarred for life in New York after he allegedly swindled his client, absconding with representation fees without making an appearance for her in court. The Gazette, an online newspaper, reported that it spoke with a court officer who said Mr Imasuen was permanently disbarred after collecting money from a client and failing to represent her. He also refused to comply with the disciplinary panel’s attempt to investigate his misconduct.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelDaphne Shyfield hired Mr Imasuen to represent her on a matter in 2009 and paid him tens of millions of dollars for legal fees. Instead of appearing for Ms Shyfield, Mr Imasuen absconded with the money, a move that triggered a morass of petitions, given that his actions contravene the existing New York bar code and rules.
Imasuen later returned to Nigeria and joined politics. He was elected as Senator representing Edo South Senatorial district in the 2023 general election on the platform of the Labour Party.
As Chairman of Senate Committee on Ethics and Public Petition, Imasuen, dismissed allegations of sexual harassment made against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, by Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The Edo lawmaker who is a member of the Labour Party, dismissed the petition submitted by Akpoti-Uduaghan on the ground that it was signed by her against the Senate Standing rules. He described the petition as “dead on arrival.” The Kogi lawmaker resubmitted the petition after it was signed by some members of her constituents and was accepted.
