Neda Imasuen, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, has been embroiled in a scandal surrounding his past. It has been revealed that he was stripped of his bar license in New York, US, due to allegations of multimillion-dollar fraud and gross misconduct.
According to reports, Imasuen was disbarred for life in New York after he swindled his client, Daphne Shyfield, absconding with tens of millions of dollars in representation fees without making an appearance in court. The Grievance Committee for the Second, Eleventh, and Thirteenth Judicial Districts terminated his license to practice law in New York after he failed to respond to petitions and refused to comply with the disciplinary panel’s investigation.
Imasuen’s actions were deemed a violation of the New York bar code and rules, leading to a series of petitions against him. Despite being served with petitions multiple times, Imasuen failed to respond, prompting the Grievance Committee to take action.
The decision to disbar Imasuen was made on May 10, 2010, with the Grievance Committee stating that he was “commanded to desist and refrain from practicing law in any form”. This scandal has raised questions about Imasuen’s integrity, particularly given his current position as chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics.
In Nigeria, Imasuen has been involved in controversy surrounding the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti. He dismissed Akpoti’s sexual harassment petition against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, citing a technicality Imasuen’s actions have sparked concerns about the integrity of Nigeria’s leadership and the ability of individuals with tainted pasts to hold public office.
This is not the first instance of a Nigerian politician facing allegations of misconduct. Former Speaker and President’s Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila had his law license terminated by the State Bar of Georgia in the US due to corruption and ethical lapses.
Credit People’s Gazette
