A coalition of prominent civil society organisations has formally petitioned the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), demanding a comprehensive investigation into grave allegations of misconduct against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Neda Bernards Imasuen.
The petition, obtained by The Guardian, underscores serious concerns regarding breaches of ethical standards within the legal profession and a potential undermining of the rule of law, urging immediate intervention from relevant authorities.
The signatories to the petition include Citizens Gavel Foundation for Social Justice, EiE Nigeria, Advocates for the Promotion of Digital Rights and Civic Interactions Initiative, TAP Initiative, Global Rights Advocates for Sustainable Justice, and the Open Society on Justice Reform Project.
These groups assert that Senator Akpabio has failed to recuse himself from investigations into accusations of sexual harassment brought forward by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. They further highlight a previous similar allegation made by Joy Nunieh, the former Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), in 2020.
The petition also strongly criticised Senator Akpabio’s role in the controversial six-month suspension of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The civil society organisations argue that this action constitutes a clear abuse of power and a disregard for Nigeria’s constitutional democracy, particularly when considered against existing judicial precedents that have nullified similar legislative suspensions.
The petitioners alleged that Senator Imasuen, on his part, faces allegations related to his disbarment in New York, USA, in 2010. According to the petition, he was found culpable of fraud and professional misconduct, specifically the misappropriation of client funds, by the Grievance Committee for the Second, Eleventh, and Thirteenth Judicial Districts.
The signatory organisations contend that his subsequent appointment as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics is fundamentally inappropriate given this ethical breach.
“These allegations, formally submitted in a petition to the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), strike at the core of Nigeria’s legal profession, the rule of law, and democratic integrity,” the petition states unequivocally.
“We call on the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), the LPDC, and all relevant authorities to immediately investigate these serious claims and ensure that justice is served without delay.”
The petition meticulously points out that both Senators Akpabio and Imasuen, as members of the Nigerian Bar, are bound by the stringent ethical requirements outlined in the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners (RPC) 2023, particularly Rule 1, which mandates the upholding of the rule of law and the maintenance of the highest standards of professional integrity.
In their demands, the civil society organisations urged the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to promptly investigate the alleged ethical violations and subsequently refer both senators to the LPDC for rigorous disciplinary proceedings, potentially leading to their disbarment. They also call upon the LPDC to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the matter.
Furthermore, they implored the National Assembly to revisit its handling of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition and subsequent suspension, ensuring strict adherence to constitutional principles and relevant judicial pronouncements.
The petitioners also appealed to Nigerian citizens, urging them to actively demand accountability from their elected officials.
The signatories emphasised that a failure to address these serious allegations could significantly erode public trust in Nigeria’s institutions and severely damage the nation’s standing on the global stage.
“Nigeria’s democracy cannot be hijacked by individuals who flout their professional and constitutional obligations,” the petition said.
