A damning revelation has emerged about Senator Neda Imasuen, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions, raising serious concerns about his credibility. A newly uncovered document has confirmed that Imasuen, who currently represents Edo South under the Labour Party, was permanently disbarred in New York, United States, for fraud and gross misconduct.
According to Peoples Gazette, Imasuen was stripped of his law licence in 2010 after allegedly collecting millions of dollars in legal fees from a client but failing to provide legal representation. This raises glaring ethical contradictions, given his position as the head of a committee tasked with upholding integrity and discipline in the Nigerian Senate.
Documents from the Grievance Committee for the Second, Eleventh, and Thirteenth Judicial Districts in New York detail the case against Imasuen. The disgraced lawyer was found guilty of professional misconduct after accepting hefty legal fees from a client, Daphne Shyfield, but repeatedly failed to appear in court on her behalf.
Despite multiple attempts by the New York authorities to reach him regarding the allegations, Imasuen ignored all disciplinary inquiries. This led to a permanent revocation of his law licence on May 10, 2010, with the ruling explicitly stating:
> “Neda B. Imasuen, admitted as Neda Bernards Imasuen, is disbarred, and his name is stricken from the roll of attorneys and counselors-at-law.”
The ruling further barred him from practicing law in any capacity or appearing before any legal authority in the United States. Following his disgrace, Imasuen reportedly fled the U.S. and resettled in Nigeria, where he later ventured into politics.
Despite his tainted past, Imasuen was elected to the Nigerian Senate in 2023 under the Labour Party and was astonishingly entrusted with the chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions—a position that demands the highest levels of integrity.
However, his appointment has now come under intense scrutiny, especially after his committee recently recommended the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months over alleged violations of Senate rules.
Political Vendetta? Imasuen’s Role in Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Suspension
Imasuen’s Ethics Committee played a key role in the controversial suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the lawmaker representing Kogi Central.
The committee accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of breaching the Senate Standing Rules 2023 (as amended) and proposed a six-month suspension, including:
Sealing her office for the entire duration of the suspension
Withdrawing her salary, allowances, and security details
The move came after Akpoti-Uduaghan had filed a sexual harassment petition against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, which Imasuen’s committee swiftly dismissed, citing procedural loopholes.
In his justification for the suspension, Imasuen stated:
> “That the Senate should suspend Senator Natasha for six months for her violation of the Senate Standing Rules 2023 as amended, for bringing the Senate President (presiding officer) and the Senate in general to public disgrace.”
Critics argue that this is a clear case of political suppression, with the Ethics Committee being weaponized to silence dissenting voices and protect high-ranking Senate officials.
The revelation of Imasuen’s disbarment has sparked widespread outrage, with many questioning how a man found guilty of professional misconduct abroad could now be in charge of enforcing ethics within the Nigerian Senate.
Public analysts and civil rights groups have called for his immediate resignation or removal from his leadership role, arguing that his past actions disqualify him from overseeing ethical matters in any capacity.
With the Nigerian Senate already battling credibility issues, the emergence of a disbarred fraudster as Ethics Chairman only deepens public mistrust in the institution.
As calls grow louder for transparency and accountability, the big question remains: Will the Senate act, or will it shield one of its own?
PIONEER NEWS 