The Living Spirit of Natasha at Work: Imasuen and Akpabio’s Past Returns to Haunt Them

The controversy surrounding Senator Neda Bernards Imasuen is a damning reflection of Nigeria’s democratic contradictions. A man disbarred by the New York State Supreme Court in 2010 for fraudulent activities now chairs the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions. The irony is glaring—how does someone deemed unfit to practice law abroad become responsible for upholding ethical standards in Nigeria’s legislature? His dismissal of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s sexual harassment petition against Senate President Godswill Akpabio reveals deeper issues of power abuse, corruption, and gender-based oppression.

But this goes beyond Imasuen and Akpabio—it highlights the broader decay of governance in Nigeria, where tainted individuals repeatedly cycle into power. The country’s democracy, already fragile from systemic corruption, is being dismantled by those entrusted with protecting it. Public trust erodes further, impunity is normalized, and the disgraced are elevated instead of being held accountable. This is the slow corrosion of a nation’s moral fabric.

The Ethical Contradiction: A Disbarred Man Overseeing Ethics

Despite Imasuen’s reckless dismissal of Natasha’s petition as 'dead on arrival,' his blatant mistreatment of a female senator, and his disregard for a court order, I am hesitant to pass immediate judgment. He not only ignored judicial directives but also recommended a six-month suspension for Natasha—an act of blatant defiance that underscores how power is wielded in Nigeria.

However, I will not condemn him outright just yet. He is a product of a system that has allowed corruption to thrive at all levels. Many of those now condemning him exist within institutions riddled with corruption, ethical decay, and abuse of power. That said, let us hear from him. Before passing final judgment, he might have insights Nigerians do not yet have, particularly concerning his New York disbarment and other unresolved matters. If he has any credibility left, he should come forward and explain himself.

Yes, he was disbarred. Yes, he concealed it. Yes, he mistreated Natasha. But let us hear him out—he may possess information that the Nigerian public does not yet know. He should return to Arise TV or another credible platform to offer his defense. Silence will only fuel further suspicion. If he believes his actions are defensible, he should state his case publicly.

However, no justification can erase the glaring contradiction of his past. His misconduct is not mere speculation—it is documented. He abandoned a client, stole funds, refused to cooperate with disciplinary authorities, and fled justice in America. And yet, this is the man responsible for overseeing ethical matters in Nigeria’s Senate. His disbarment was not a minor infraction—it was a judicial ruling that deemed him unfit to practice law. And yet, in Nigeria, such a figure is deemed qualified to enforce ethical standards.

The Psychological and Democratic Impact of Dismissing Natasha’s PetitionFor democracy to function, transparency, accountability, and integrity must be upheld. The Nigerian media, as a key watchdog, must balance due process with the need to prevent ethical concerns from being brushed aside. The dismissal of Natasha’s petition is not just political maneuvering—it exposes psychological resistance to addressing gender-based violence within Nigeria’s institutions.

When a woman in power is silenced, when due process is manipulated to protect the powerful, and when institutions meant to serve justice suppress the vulnerable, democracy itself is in peril. Natasha’s suspension is not just an isolated case—it is a clear message that power in Nigeria will be used to punish those who challenge corrupt hierarchies.

The Past Catches Up: Imasuen’s Disbarment and Akpabio’s Slap

No matter how much power shields the corrupt, the past has a way of returning to demand accountability. In Imasuen’s case, it is his disbarment in New York—an irreversible mark on his record that exposed him as unfit for legal practice. He abandoned his client, stole her funds, ignored the legal system, and ran away from consequences. Yet today, he sits in Nigeria’s Senate as the head of ethics, a contradiction so grotesque that it stings the conscience of any nation that still values justice.

For Akpabio, the past resurfaced in the form of a slap—a literal, unforgettable moment when Joy Nunieh, the former NDDC Managing Director, publicly accused him of sexual harassment and responded with physical force. That slap became symbolic of resistance against male dominance, entitlement, and the abuse of power. Now, as he faces a fresh sexual harassment petition from another woman, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the echoes of that past moment return, reinforcing the undeniable pattern of exploitation that powerful men believe they can get away with.

The Political Class: A System Built on Corruption

Nigeria’s political elite have mastered the art of burying scandals beneath new appointments. Individuals who should be held accountable for their past misdeeds are instead elevated to higher positions. Imasuen is not an outlier—he is a reflection of a system built on impunity. Politicians with criminal pasts, unresolved fraud cases, and ethical stains continue to occupy key roles. Figures like Akpabio, whose alleged entanglements with law enforcement remain unresolved, operate with the assurance that they control institutions such as the media, police, and judiciary.

But I say this: time will catch up with them.

Nigeria has become a safe haven for individuals who would not survive in functional democracies because of their past crimes. They return, reinvent themselves, and thrive in a system that rewards, rather than punishes, corruption. The key difference between Imasuen and others is that he was reportedly barred for life. That he now chairs the Ethics Committee in the Senate—an institution meant to uphold accountability—is more than hypocrisy; it is an insult to governance.

A Call for Dignity
Stepping Aside for the Nation’s SakeI take no pleasure in saying this—both Imasuen and Akpabio should temporarily step aside. They may believe that Nigeria tolerates anything, that this will soon be forgotten, but I urge them: have some dignity. If they refuse to act with integrity, global legal scrutiny may eventually catch up with them. The honorable step forward is to resign—now, before disgrace catches up with them.

Conclusion: A Defining Moment for Nigeria’s Democracy

Nigeria’s democracy must rise beyond legal loopholes that allow ethically compromised individuals to infiltrate its highest offices. The unchecked abuse of power is a cancer—one that spreads, corrupts, and erodes any hope for justice and governance. The media, civil society, and political stakeholders must push for structural reforms that prioritize accountability, gender justice, and ethical fairness in handling misconduct allegations.

This moment is a defining test for Nigeria’s democratic integrity. The world is watching, history is recording, and the time for impunity is running out. The question remains: will Nigeria finally hold its leaders accountable, or will it continue to enable the very forces that undermine its progress?

Prof John Egbeazien Oshodi
Oshodi Open Door, also known as Oshodi Open Door Public Training (OOPDT, pronounced opidt), is a public awareness initiative promoting transparency, accountability, and integrity in Africa through educational articles and resources at [email protected], and offers specialized Timely Response Solutions (TRS) training at minimal or no cost.

Professor John Egbeazien Oshodi is an American psychologist, educator, author specializing in forensic clinical psychology, cross-cultural psychology, police prison science, social justice. Born in Uromi, Edo State, Nigeria, he is the son of a 37-year veteran of the Nigeria Police Force, a background that shaped his commitment to justice, security, psychological research.

A pioneer in forensic psychology, he introduced state-of-the-art forensic psychology to Nigeria in 2011 through the National Universities Commission (NUC) Nasarawa State University, where he served as an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology. His contributions extend beyond academia into psychological health behavioral change initiatives through the Oshodi Foundation the Center for Psychological Forensic Services.

Professor Oshodi has held faculty positions at Florida Memorial University, Florida International University, Broward College, Nova Southeastern University, Lynn University. He is also a contributing faculty member in the doctoral undergraduate psychology programs at Walden University serves as a virtual professor with Weldios University and Iscom University.

Beyond academia, he is a government consultant for forensic-clinical psychological services in the USA previously served as Interim Associate Dean Assistant Professor at Broward College, Florida.

He has published extensively on mental health, justice, institutional reform is the founder of the Psychoafricalysis theory, which integrates African sociocultural perspectives into psychology.

Professor Oshodi remains an influential force in advancing psychology institutional reform globally, particularly in Africa.