Suspended Senator Challenges Colleague's Legal Integrity: A Call For Accountability

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Files Petition Against Senator Neda Bernards Imasuen for Disbarment

Listen up, folks. The political scene in Nigeria just got a little more dramatic. Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has taken a bold step by formally lodging a petition with the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC). Her request? That Senator Neda Bernards Imasuen be disbarred from practicing law in Nigeria. The petition is steeped in accusations of professional misconduct that stretch across continents and years.

Allegations of Professional Misconduct: The Case Against Senator Imasuen

Naija News has learned that the petition lays out some pretty serious allegations. Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan accuses Senator Imasuen of being disbarred from the New York Bar back in 2010 due to charges that would make your head spin. Among these are fraud, the misappropriation of client funds, and a refusal to cooperate with disciplinary authorities. These aren’t minor infractions we’re talking about here, folks. These are the kind of actions that can shake the foundation of trust in the legal profession.

Let me break it down for you. The New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department, permanently disbarred Senator Imasuen on May 10, 2010. This wasn’t a random decision. It came after a formal complaint by a client named Daphne Slyfield, who alleged that Imasuen had misappropriated legal fees. The court, after reviewing the evidence, found him guilty of multiple breaches of professional conduct. As a result, his legal license in the United States was revoked. That’s a big deal, and it raises some serious questions about his fitness to practice law elsewhere.

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Continued Practice in Nigeria Despite U.S. Disbarment

Now here’s where it gets even more interesting. Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan claims that despite being disbarred in the U.S., Senator Imasuen continued to practice law in Nigeria. Not only that, but he also ventured into politics, presenting himself as a legal practitioner. How does that work? How does someone with such a checkered past manage to rise to such prominence in the legal and political arenas?

Imasuen didn’t stop there. He went on to secure the position of Senator for the Edo South Senatorial District. What’s more, he was appointed as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions. Think about that for a moment. This is a role that demands the highest level of integrity. Yet, here we have someone whose professional history raises significant red flags.

Petition Highlights Discrepancies in Senator Imasuen’s Disclosures

The petition doesn’t stop at pointing out past misconduct. It also accuses Senator Imasuen of failing to disclose his disbarment when he filled out his FORM EC-9 – Particulars of Personal Information for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). This is the form that candidates must submit before contesting for public office. It’s meant to ensure transparency and accountability, but in this case, it seems like there might have been some critical omissions.

In her petition, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is urging the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee to take appropriate action. She’s highlighting the discrepancies in Senator Imasuen’s disclosures and questioning whether someone with such a record is suitable to hold an influential position in the Senate. It’s a call for accountability and transparency, and it’s a reminder that those in positions of power must be held to the highest ethical standards.