Victor EzejaHuman Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called on investigative agencies such as the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) to probe into the report that Edo South Senator Neda Imasuen, was barred from practicing Law in New York, the United States over alleged case of fraud.
The rights group emphasised that it is imperative that a relevant investigative agency should step up to probe the claims made in the reports while Senator Imasuen should immediately step down as chairman of the Senate’s Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public petitions.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelSenator Imasuen, who recommended the suspension of Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan, over allegations of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, has been in the news in the past few days over alleged fraud that allegedly led to withdrawal of his licence to practice law in New York.
HURIWA in a statement by its National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, said the Nigerian Senate owe Nigerians a clear explanation for why the leadership appointed Senator Imasuen to such a serious committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions without ascertaining his professional records.
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The group said: “If this damaging accusation of fraud made against Senator Imasuen is confirmed to be credible, it would be logically and ethically impossible for a believable reason to be adduced by the Senate’s hierarchy on why someone with ethical baggage is saddled with the onerous function and power of enforcing ethical standards and heading a strategic panel charged with investigating public petitions.
“It is against natural law for such a serious error of judgment to have been committed by the Senate president. If it is true, the Senate president should tender a public apology to Nigerians.”
Reports claimed that Mr Imasuen was disbarred for life after he swindled his client, absconding with representation fees without making an appearance for her in court.
He also refused to comply with the disciplinary panel’s attempt to investigate his misconduct.
Daphne Shyfield hired Imasuen to represent her on a matter in 2009 and paid him tens of millions of dollars for legal fees.
It was alleged that instead of appearing for Shyfield, Mr Imasuen allegedly absconded with the money, a move that triggered a morass of petitions, given that his actions contravened the existing New York bar code and rules.
Despite being served with petitions on multiple occasions in the US, Imasuen failed to respond to any of the petitions and did not ask for an extension of time to file a response.
The Edo South senator, instead, allegedly fled to Nigeria with Shyfield’s funds to lay low and escape disciplinary actions from the Grievance Committee, the body responsible for issuing rulings for the infractions of jurists.
Following several failed attempts to obtain a response to petition files, the Grievance Committee for the Second, Eleventh, and Thirteenth Judicial Districts terminated Imasuen’s licence to practice law in New York.
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“Neda B. Imasuen, admitted as Neda Bernards Imasuen, is disbarred, and his name is stricken from the roll of attorneys and counselors-at-law,” a decision of the Grievance Committee on May 10, 2010 reads.
“Neda Bernards Imasuen is commanded to desist and refrain from (1) practicing law in any form, either as principal or agent, clerk, or employee of another, (2) appearing as an attorney or counsellor-at-law before any court, judge, justice, board, commission, or other public authority,” the notice of his disbarment further reads
Meanwhile, in Nigeria, Imasuen who is 66 years old, rode on the waves of the Labour Party to win the Edo South senatorial poll in 2023 and wormed his way to becoming the chair of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions.
“We are also calling on the Senate President Mr Godswill Akpabio to relieve Mr Imasuen of his appointment or suspend him from that position of heading the Ethics and Public Petitions committee until a clearer information emerges based on the investigation of ICPC or available response from Freedom of Information request.
”We urge Nigerian lawyers practicing in New York to officially obtain a detailed report from the New York bar on the allegation that Imasuen was disbarred from law practice in New York and under which circumstances. The findings should be published widely for Nigerians to read and ascertain if this serious allegation against Senator Imasuen is true or false.”
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
