A recall process has been initiated against the senator representing Edo South senatorial district, Neda Imasuen by his constituents.
The constituents of Edo South Senatorial District and the Human Rights Community, on Friday, March 28, said they have lost confidence in Imasuen over alleged corruption, abuse of office, failure in his responsibilities and betrayal of public trust.The constituents and their allies in the human rights community are also demanding for Imasuen's prosecution over issues that caused his alleged disbarment by the New York State Supreme Court in 2010.
The constituents added, "Given the international nature of these allegations, INTERPOL’s cooperation is necessary to ensure a thorough, Independent and global investigation."
Representatives of five of the seven local governments in the senatorial district, disclosed the move at a media briefing in Benin City, the Edo State capital on Friday.
The group said the constituents deserve credible, accountable and transparent representation in the Senate.
The representatives of the local governments that initiated the recall process include Kola Edokpayi (Oredo), Caesar Garrick (Ikpoba-Okha), Aghatise Raphael (Ovia South West), Ogbu David (Uhunwode), Okorie Kingsley (Ovia North East), and Hanson Orako (Egor).
The group alleged that Imasuen, who is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions, has no constituency projects in his senatorial district, saying that he has distanced himself from the people.
Consequently, the constituents have issued a 14-day notice to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Nigerian Senate and anti-graft agencies to take act on their petition. Reacting, Imasuen dismissed the allegations, saying that the individuals moving against him had recently been invited to Kogi State.
He said, "They are doing a hatchet job because they are being paid from Kogi. I don’t see why someone is being paid to throw stones at his father’s house."
As the chairman of the Senate Ethics committee, Imasuen presided over the panel that recommended the six-month suspension of the senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The senator has consistently declined comments on alleged financial fraud involving him and an accomplice who was said to have been convicted.
He was said to have committed the alleged crime in New York, the United States where he was a practicing attorney sometime between 2010 and 2012.
