A group of constituents from Edo South Senatorial District, alongside members of the Human Rights Community, have declared their intention to recall Senator Neda Imasuen, accusing him of corruption, misconduct, and a failure to deliver on his mandate.
At a press briefing in Benin City on Friday, representatives from five out of the seven local government areas in the district stated that they no longer have confidence in the Labour Party senator, citing allegations of abuse of office and betrayal of public trust.
The group also called for his prosecution over his alleged disbarment by the New York State Supreme Court in 2010.
“Given the international scope of these allegations, INTERPOL’s involvement is necessary for a comprehensive and impartial investigation,” they noted.
The representatives included 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 petitioners accused Imasuen, who chairs the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions, of failing to execute constituency projects and distancing himself from the electorate.
They issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Nigerian Senate, and anti-corruption agencies to act on their petition.
In response, Imasuen denied the allegations, claiming that those pushing for his recall were politically motivated.
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.”
Imasuen is also at the centre of an ongoing controversy involving a sexual harassment petition filed by suspended Kogi State Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.