Natasha Akpoti Petitions Legal Committee Over Senator Imasuen’s Disbarment

Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has petitioned the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee, urging an investigation into Edo lawmaker Natasha Akpoti Petitions Legal Committee Over Senator Imasuen’s Disbarmentfor alleged misconduct, including disobeying a court ruling and concealing his disbarment from Nigeria’s electoral body, INEC.

In her petition, received by the committee on Monday, Akpoti-Uduaghan referenced a report by Peoples Gazette, which revealed that the New York Supreme Court revoked Imasuen’s law license in May 2010. According to the report, he absconded with the legal fees of his client, Daphne Slyfield, without providing legal representation. The Kogi senator alleged that Imasuen deliberately withheld this information from his INEC EC-9 form, thereby denying Nigerians crucial details about his past.

Akpoti-Uduaghan argued that despite his disbarment for unethical conduct, Imasuen managed to establish a political career in Nigeria and now chairs the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions—a position that demands “unimpeachable integrity.” She emphasized that he failed to disclose his professional misconduct in official documents submitted to INEC under oath.

Beyond the disbarment issue, Akpoti-Uduaghan also accused Imasuen of disregarding a court ruling that barred the Senate from investigating or sanctioning her over allegations of misconduct. On March 5, Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Abuja Federal High Court issued an ex parte ruling preventing the Senate ethics committee from penalizing her. However, Imasuen, acknowledging the ruling, refused to comply, arguing that the legislature is independent of judicial interference.

“They presented to me a motion and a rule order from the court attempting to stop this committee from doing its work. This is unacceptable,” Imasuen stated, defending his stance on the separation of powers. The next day, he recommended a six-month suspension for Akpoti-Uduaghan, which the Senate approved.

In her petition, Akpoti-Uduaghan maintained that Imasuen’s actions violated Section 31 of the Rules of Professional Conduct for lawyers, which mandates that legal practitioners treat the court with respect and dignity. She called for the legal disciplinary committee to take appropriate action against him.

Further complicating matters, Peoples Gazette also reported that Imasuen had been implicated in a major bank heist in the United States before relocating to Nigeria and embarking on his political career.