Nigerian Senate Ethics Chairman, Neda Imasuen, Disbarred for Life in New York Over Fraud, Gross Misconduct
Sunday, March 9, 2025
Neda Imasuen, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions, who recently spearheaded the suspension of Natasha Akpoti, has been disbarred for life in New York, United States, over allegations of multimillion-dollar fraud and gross professional misconduct.
Documents obtained by Peoples Gazette reveal that Mr. Imasuen was permanently disbarred after swindling a client and failing to appear in court on her behalf. Despite multiple petitions and disciplinary inquiries, he absconded with the funds and fled to Nigeria to avoid disciplinary action.
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Details of the Misconduct
In 2009, Daphne Shyfield hired Imasuen to represent her in a legal matter, paying tens of millions of dollars in legal fees. Instead of fulfilling his duties, Imasuen allegedly pocketed the money and failed to appear in court, leading to multiple complaints filed with the New York Grievance Committee.
When contacted, a court officer confirmed that Imasuen refused to respond to the petitions or cooperate with investigations, resulting in his permanent disbarment.
The Grievance Committee for the Second, Eleventh, and Thirteenth Judicial Districts ruled on May 10, 2010, that:
“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 also prohibited Imasuen from:
- Practicing law in any capacity.
- Appearing as legal counsel before any court, judge, or public authority.
(Source: Peoples Gazette, March 9, 2025)
From Disbarment to Nigerian Senate
After his disbarment, Imasuen, now 66, returned to Nigeria, where he leveraged his association with the Labour Party to win the Edo South Senatorial seat in 2023. He eventually ascended to the chairmanship of the Senate Ethics Committee—a position meant to uphold ethical conduct and address public complaints.
His appointment to this role, despite his tainted legal past, raises serious concerns about ethical standards and accountability within Nigeria’s political system.
Handling of Natasha Akpoti’s Petition
Imasuen’s ethical record came under scrutiny following his handling of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s sexual harassment petition against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Last Wednesday, Imasuen dismissed Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition on the grounds that it was “dead on arrival” because she personally signed it, which he claimed violated the Senate’s procedural rules. However, by Friday, after the petition was re-submitted with the required constituent’s signature, Imasuen reluctantly accepted it.
A Pattern of Political Figures with Tainted Records
Imasuen’s disbarment adds his name to a growing list of Nigerian politicians with criminal records abroad who hold influential positions at home.
Notably, Femi Gbajabiamila, the former Speaker of the House and current Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, previously had his law license terminated by the State Bar of Georgia for allegedly stealing $25,000 from a client.
Despite his disbarment and ethical violations, Imasuen has not issued any public statement regarding the revelations.
His case reflects the broader issue of Nigerian politicians using fraud proceeds to secure political office and avoid accountability for crimes committed on foreign soil.