₦airaland Forum

Neda Imasuen practised law in the US and was accused of professional misconduct before he returned to Nigeria to enter politics.

Neda Imasuen, a Nigerian-trained lawyer and senator, is yet to react to his being barred from practising law in the US, about a week after the Nigerian media broke the news.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Imasuen was disbarred from practising law in the US in 2010 following a petition from an American, Daphne Slyfield, who accused him of failing to represent him in a court case after he hired and paid him for it.

According to the document, Mr Slyfield had petitioned the Supreme Court of New York on the matter.

The Grievance Committee for the Second, Eleventh, and Thirteenth Judicial Districts of the Court handled the matter.

The petitioner accused Mr Imasuen of “professional misconduct.”

George Friedman, as special referee, was referred to hear and report on the issues raised.

After being served with the petition in July 2009, Mr Imasuen was asked to file a response within 20 days.

The committee had informed him that failure to file his response would compel it to deem the charges against him, as outlined in the petition, established.

The document said Mr Imasuen failed to respond to the petition within the permitted time or apply for an extension of time.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that Mr Imasuen returned to Nigeria in 2010, the same year he was disbarred.

He would later work as a consultant for the European Union’s State Reforming Institutional Programme, serving as the Jigawa State coordinator.

However, in 2023, Mr Imasuen, an indigene of Edo State, emerged as a senator representing Edo South District at Nigeria’s upper legislative chambers.

The senator is a member of the Labour Party, one of Nigeria’s opposition political parties.

The All Progressives Congress is the country’s ruling political party.

According to our findings, an attorney suspended or disbarred, or whose name was stricken from the Roll of Attorneys and Counselors-at-Law upon conviction of a felony, may apply to be reinstated to practice.

Such an application for reinstatement after disbarment or removal may not be made until the expiration of seven years from the entry of the order of disbarment.

It is unclear if Mr Imasuen applied for reinstatement after his disbarment. If he did not, his disbarment remains active.


Silence

The story of Mr Imasuen’s disbarment in the US has been trending in Nigeria since Sunday with many of the country’s media outlets- broadcast, print and digital media- reporting it.

Like other media outlets, PREMIUM TIMES contacted the senator multiple times without getting a response.

Our reporter, for instance, phoned Mr Imasuen on Sunday via his known mobile number and sent text messages, but did not get a response.

On Wednesday, we also phoned Mr Imasuen multiple times via another of his known mobile line. He did not respond to the calls.

A text message sent to the senator’s mobile line the same day was delivered to him, but he was yet to respond, days after.

On Thursday, our reporter also sent enquiries to the senator via his official email. But as of the time of filing this report, he was yet to respond.


Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension

Mr Imasuen, the chairperson of the Senate ethics committee, was involved in the recent suspension of the Kogi Central senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who accused the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, of sexual harassment.

After receiving a report from Senator Imasuen-led committee, the Senate, presided by Mr Akpabio, suspended Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months over alleged misconduct and refusal to comply with the chamber’s sitting arrangement during the plenary on 20 February.

Mr Akpabio referred the senator’s sexual harassment petition to the Senate ethics committee.

The chairperson of the committee, Mr Imasuen, ruled that the petition was “dead on arrival” and would not be entertained by the Senate.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/south-south-regional/781142-nigerian-senator-barred-from-practising-law-in-us-yet-to-speak-on-scandal.html

I just de waka pass ,una weldone

Hmmmm

This is what happens when you have despicable people in position of authority. They became democratic moralists and activists.
All any foreign based criminal needs to do to be relevant is Nigeria today is to port back home and join politics. This is the template that has been set by the druggie and CSU certificate forger in chief.

He is hoping that it is a storm that would pass if he keeps silent.

Him political enemies don dig up that one. He should better decamp to APC now, because he is not coming back to the Senate in 2027. Na thief him be.

Wetin una want him to spoke na..
If I Natasha legislative aide na airport I go dey wait for fbi to go show them the man house for this Abuja

dre11:
Neda Imasuen practised law in the US and was accused of professional misconduct before he returned to Nigeria to enter politics.






https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/south-south-regional/781142-nigerian-senator-barred-from-practising-law-in-us-yet-to-speak-on-scandal.html

Nlfpmod

Abeg make una die this nonsense sponsored propaganda against the man. He didn't take a unilateral decision on Natasha's suspension, it was a collective decision of the committee he chairs, which was eventually adopted by the Senate. This una propaganda will die.

Nokio2:
Wetin una want him to spoke na..

LEGE NL, is that YOU?

LP senator!

He is a Political Criminal, a Scammer, and a Fraudster.

That is his own cup of tea. If not for Labour Party's glory, such a man should never have been elected.

However, it does not change the fact that Natasha Akpoti should be arrested and assassinated to serve as a once and for all lesson to ladies who think that anytime they want, they can destroy a man they hate by just accusing him of Sexual Harassment.
This madness must stop. Enough is enough.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a Brilliant Politician, but a Terrible , Horrible & Clueless President.

He got into office in 2023, spent the last 2 years rewarding his family and close associates. He’s using the remaining 2 years in campaigning for 2027.

Zero Governance

Zero accountability

dre11:
Neda Imasuen practised law in the US and was accused of professional misconduct before he returned to Nigeria to enter politics.





https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/south-south-regional/781142-nigerian-senator-barred-from-practising-law-in-us-yet-to-speak-on-scandal.html

What's this when the Yorubas gave us our first drug baron as President

Na wa oo

He is afraid to defend himself just like the Chicago Bobo in Aso rock

This is the kind of people Tinubu likes to use


Bloody Chicago thief

For avoiding to make comments and deliberate refusal to defend himself he is guilty

in 2010 following a petition from an American, Daphne Slyfield, who accused him of failing to represent him in a court case after he hired and paid him for it.

Thank God he did not forge his certificate. It was a matter of him not representing his client, well he should refund the client's money.

So is our president.
He studied in Chicago university of drugs peddling, now he's the president of a nation.
No body truly knows tomorrow, I no go surprise tomorrow if hushpuppi win presidential election for Nigeria sef.

Antoeni:
Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a Brilliant Politician, but a Terrible , Horrible & Clueless President.

He got into office in 2023, spent the last 2 years rewarding his family and close associates. He’s using the remaining 2 years in campaigning for 2027.

Zero Governance

Zero accountability

I never knew Buhari could be better than Anyone.,

I never knew

He has probably confessed so all his sordid past are now bygone.

hmm

He knows that nothing will happen.

He is a MF

Ekweremadu, Imasuen, etc. They are all corruption personified. This is Naijiriya.

Very good for him.He think say nah Nigeria he dey where he'll collected somebody money and disappear % later appear and give USELESS excuses..
I remember wen OAU students in those days dragged one musician wey collected their money and refused to show up

He is busy 'eating'

He would not speak because it is the truth. This is Nigeria, he will still win the seat in 2027 even with this stinking skeleton

Clarity always helps

Natasha is still doing media war against those who punished her for he blackmailing r stupidity.

A shameless blogger is so jobless and petty to remind us that the man ignored their article.

Women and bitterness

dre11:
Neda Imasuen practised law in the US and was accused of professional misconduct before he returned to Nigeria to enter politics.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/south-south-regional/781142-nigerian-senator-barred-from-practising-law-in-us-yet-to-speak-on-scandal.html

Why should he speak when his fellow Amercian-trained lawyer crook is in Aso rock with the druggie president

oshozondii:
Former Nigerian House Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila has been terminated as a licensed lawyer of the State Bar of Georgia in the United States after his corruption and ethical lapses outstripped acceptable thresholds for members, Peoples Gazette can report.

The Nigerian politician, who currently serves as the chief of staff to President Bola Tinubu, himself a man of uncountable scandals, was ostracised from the prestigious body effective July 1, 2020, according to records recently obtained by The Gazette. He was found to have stolen money from a client and also failed to pay his membership fees.

Mr Gbajabiamila’s disgrace in the U.S. underscores yet again the gulf between civilisations that exert fair and available instruments to foster accountability versus Nigeria, where transparently fraudulent,odious figures are in charge of the most consequential positions of authority.

For several weeks, Mr Gbajabiamila dodged The Gazette’s requests for comments about his corruption and punishment in the U.S. A spokesman for the State House also failed to send in comments that were promised after several weeks.

Georgia Bar officials told The Gazette that Mr Gbajabiamila’s latest ordeal began when a client filed a grievance against him for theft. Mr Gbajabiamila subsequently ignored the bar and stopped paying his fees and other membership obligations. The Gazette was told that attempts were made to reach Mr Gbajabiamila through his Peachtree Road address in Atlanta, but he frustrated it all.

On July 2, 2015, Mr Gbajabiamila was suspended for five years, The Gazette learnt. The suspension was finally approved as a permanent termination of his membership on July 1, 2020. Mr Gbajabiamila, who was admitted to the State Bar of Georgia on June 29, 2001, was the Speaker of the House of Representatives at the time of his infractions in the U.S.

“He can no longer practice law in the state of Georgia,” an official told The Gazette. “He’s done.”

In a unanimous decision on February 26, 2007, the Supreme Court of Georgia approved the suspension of Mr Gbajabiamila for 36 months, after he admitted stealing $25,000 from a client. He was reinstated after serving out his suspension, only for him to commit another infraction that led to his final dismissal.

Mr Gbajabiamila, “who has only been a member of the bar since 2001, admits that he accepted payment of $25,000 as settlement of a client’s personal injury claims, deposited those funds in his attorney trust account in January 2003, failed to promptly disburse those funds to his client, withdrew those funds for his own use, closed his practice and moved out of the country,” the court said at the time.

Mr Gbajabiamila, who had already been a federal lawmaker for nearly four years before the verdict, paid the money back in 2006, a year before the judgement, in order to get lighter punishment, including being disbarred.

Whereas Mr Gbajabiamila has suffered the consequences of his known offenses in the U.S., which spanned from the early aughts through 2020, his corruption in Nigeria has gone unpunished. In 2021, Mr Gbajabiamila was among top lawmakers and government ministers who received heavy bribes from private businessmen to undercut local communities in passing the controversial 2021 law regulating the Nigerian hydrocarbon industry.

Recently, he has faced allegations from within his own party that he received bribes to sell key government positions. A video produced by ruling All Progressives Congress’ youth wing accused him of unbriddled corruption that could severely undermine Mr Tinubu’s administration. He has yet to deny the allegations, but some of his supporters accused those behind the campaign as saboteurs.

After spending the past 20 years af a federal lawmaker, House Speaker and now President Tinubu’s chief of staff, Mr Gbajabiamila may not need to work again as a lawyer, said a political commentator Ken Eluma Asogwa. He also has little to be ashamed of since he’s on Mr Tinubu’s team with Nyesom Wike, a notoriously violent politician already condemned by foreign observers, and Atiku Bagudu, a former Kebbi governor who’s infamous for laundering billions for departed Nigerian dictator Sani Abacha.

“Looking at the characters he’s serving with, he has many reasons to brush this off,” Mr Asogma, an Abuja-based legal practitioner, said. “His inglorious days in the United States might be catching up with him, but you can expect him to continue to thrive in Nigeria, where no one in power pays for willful infractions.”

https://gazettengr.com/exclusive-u-s-legal-panel-terminates-femi-gbajabiamilas-law-licence-after-stealing-money-from-client-violating-bar-rules/?fbclid=IwAR2BLNyXTfOStDlLZIzAfHJsN9ooMQ6Zqe7wOQh85p705GrjZNsiC79UFA8