Nigerian Senator Neda Imasuen Disbarred in US Over Professional Misconduct

Nigerian Senator Neda Imasuen Disbarred in US Over Professional Misconduct

Nigerian Senator Neda Imasuen, who represents Edo South Senatorial District, has been embroiled in a scandal surrounding his disbarment in the United States over professional misconduct. According to reports, Imasuen was stripped of his bar license in New York in 2010 for defrauding a client and absconding with tens of millions of dollars in legal fees.

The client, Daphne Shyfield, had hired Imasuen to represent her in a legal matter, paying him tens of millions of dollars in legal fees. However, Imasuen allegedly neglected the case and failed to appear in court on Shyfield's behalf. Despite multiple attempts to contact him regarding the allegations, Imasuen reportedly ignored all petitions and disciplinary inquiries, prompting the New York authorities to revoke his legal license permanently.

The Grievance Committee for the Second, Eleventh, and Thirteenth Judicial Districts found Imasuen guilty of professional misconduct, and the New York Supreme Court's ruling, dated May 11, 2010, officially prohibited him from practicing law in any form, including appearing before any court or legal authority in the US.

Despite his troubled past, Imasuen went on to become a senator in Nigeria, chairing the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions. His disbarment has raised serious questions about his role as head of the Senate Ethics Committee, particularly after his committee recently recommended the six-month suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan over alleged violations of Senate rules.

Imasuen's case reflects the broader issue of Nigerian politicians using fraud proceeds to secure political office and avoid accountability for crimes committed on foreign soil.

Recall, Senator Neda Imasuen is the chairman the Senate Committee on Ethics, he played a significant role in the recent suspension of Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan