US-Based Nigerian Lawyers Disbarred: Full List of Fraud, Theft and Misconduct Cases

Several Nigerian lawyers who practised in the United States have been disbarred, suspended or otherwise sanctioned following disciplinary proceedings over professional misconduct, including fraud, theft, misappropriation of client funds and unauthorised legal practice, according to court documents and disciplinary records reviewed by journalists.

The sanctions were imposed by various state and federal legal authorities, including the Supreme Court of the State of New York, the Minnesota Supreme Court, the Florida Supreme Court, the Board of Immigration Appeals and the Executive Office for Immigration Review.

The cases reveal a pattern of vulnerable clients — particularly immigrants desperate to regularise their status in the US — being targeted by lawyers who exploited their fear and lack of legal knowledge.

Among those permanently struck off the roll of attorneys, Owolabi M. Salis was disbarred by the Supreme Court of the State of New York in 2022 after a litany of complaints from immigrant clients who accused him of stealing tens of thousands of dollars. The court found that Salis had filed 1,185 fraudulent and frivolous immigration petitions over eight years, with only one approved. He also attempted to conceal his identity from immigration authorities. Salis failed to appear at his disciplinary hearing and did not notify the grievance committee, according to the disbarment records. His name was struck from the roll of attorneys. Despite being disbarred, Salis allegedly continued to practise law, meeting clients in the evenings. Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez filed seven criminal charges against him in August 2023, including third- and fourth-degree grand larceny, second-degree criminal contempt, first-degree scheme to defraud, immigrant assistance services fraud and unlawful practice of the law. Salis, who gained international attention in June 2025 as the first Nigerian to travel to space aboard a Blue Origin mission, had his disbarment appeal dismissed by the Board of Immigration Appeals in December 2025.

Neda B. Imasuen, now a Nigerian senator representing Edo South, was permanently disbarred by the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Appellate Division, on 10 May 2010. The Grievance Committee for the Second, Eleventh and Thirteenth Judicial Districts found that Imasuen had neglected a legal matter entrusted to him by an American client, Daphne Slyfield, after being paid substantial legal fees. Imasuen failed to respond to the petition within the stipulated 20 days and did not seek an extension. The court deemed the charges admitted and ordered that he “desist and refrain from practising law in any form.” He returned to Nigeria the same year and later entered politics. In March 2025, suspended Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan filed a petition with the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee seeking Imasuen’s disbarment in Nigeria, alleging he failed to disclose his US disbarment when contesting for office. Imasuen has denied any criminal wrongdoing. In a June 2025 interview, he claimed the disbarment stemmed from a civil negligence issue — his former Brooklyn landlord improperly discarded confidential client files while he was on vacation in Nigeria. He stated: “It’s a civil issue of negligence, not a criminal case. If you read the ruling, it clearly states there was no stealing or misconduct — just mishandling of files left by my landlord.”

READ ALSO:

• Pope Leo XIV Warns Against Letting AI Make Human Decisions
• Kara Bridge Repairs, Multiple Crashes Trigger 14-Hour Gridlock on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway
• 2027: Court Gives Atiku Seven Days to Serve Tinubu Through APC in Eligibility Suit

Chinyere Alex Ogoke, a Chicago-based lawyer licensed in 2005, was disbarred in 2021 after continuing to practise despite an earlier suspension by the Board of Immigration Appeals. Ogoke falsely claimed he was “not subject to any order suspending or otherwise restricting his practice of law” while filing notices of appearance on behalf of 11 immigration clients. The board ruled that his “continued intentional and knowing disregard” for its suspension order and his repeated false claims were “serious violations that undermine the integrity of the legal system.”

Ignatius Chukwuemeka Udeani, based in Bloomington, Minnesota, was disbarred by the Minnesota Supreme Court in January 2023. He had been indefinitely suspended in 2020. The disciplinary body found he failed to protect his clients’ legal interests — specifically vulnerable immigrants — failed to return unearned legal fees and client funds, and did not properly cooperate with investigations.

Chuck Odifu Egbune, a Colorado-based lawyer, was disbarred in 2025 after engaging in illegal law practice while on suspension. He represented his sister in court without a valid licence, violating Colorado law.

Taiwo A. Agbaje, based in Maryland, was disbarred at both state and federal levels. The Board of Immigration Appeals issued a final order in June 2016 based on his Maryland disbarment. The court found he took $40,000 from a client for a Baltimore real estate investment and described his conduct as “dishonest and deceitful,” involving conflict of interest, fraud and misrepresentation.

Cyril O. Chukwurah, a Texas-based lawyer, was disbarred in 2015 for multiple violations including practising while on active suspension, violating disciplinary judgments in two other cases, and failing to properly deliver clients’ funds.

Wilfred I. Aka, a Los Angeles-based attorney and Certified Public Accountant, was disbarred in 2025 by the US Tax Court and the Board of Immigration Appeals after disciplinary actions in 2019 and 2020. He was found to have failed in his duties to the court, clients and opposing counsel.

Uchechi Okechukwu Nwakanma (also known as Prince Nwakanma), based in Houston, was disbarred in 2017 by the Board of Immigration Appeals after an initial suspension in 2015 for failing to pay fees and meet continuing education requirements.

Emeka M. Uyamadu, a Houston-based lawyer, was permanently disbarred in 2010 following felony convictions in Harris County, Texas, for stealing between $20,000 and $100,000.

Alexander Osondu Akpodiete, who practised in Florida, was disbarred by the Florida Supreme Court in 2010 following disciplinary proceedings between 2005 and 2008. His offences included contempt of court, failing to keep a client informed, and unauthorised withdrawal of $1,000 from a client’s credit card.

READ ALSO:

• 2027: Northern Students Back Tinubu, Pledge Campus-to-Campus Mobilisation
• Benue: Two Police Officers Killed as Gunmen Ambush DPO’s Convoy in Ayilamo
• “Clash of Egos”: Ayo Fayose Downplays Public Feud Between Wike and APC Governors

John Udo, admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in 1995, was disbarred in 2010 following a ten-count disciplinary petition accusing him of misusing and stealing client funds, neglecting immigration cases involving vulnerable clients and abandoning his professional responsibilities. The Massachusetts Clients’ Security Board later compensated 14 former clients.

In cases of temporary suspension, Aloysius O. Ejimakor was suspended from practising law in New York for nine months in 2004 after making false claims about his official qualifications. The Executive Office for Immigration Review instituted disciplinary proceedings in July 2003 after Ejimakor filed numerous notices of appearance in which he misrepresented his status as a member in good standing of the New York bar. Ejimakor failed to file a timely response to the allegations despite being granted an extension. The Department of Justice treated his silence as an admission of the charges. He has not been reinstated.

Abiola O. Adesioye, based in the District of Columbia, was suspended in July 2025 by the Board of Immigration Appeals from practising before the board, immigration courts and the Department of Homeland Security. This followed a suspension order from the District of Columbia Court of Appeals on 25 March 2025.

Michael Ozulumba, based in Massachusetts, was suspended for two years from practising before the Internal Revenue Service and the Executive Office for Immigration Review after being found guilty of professional misconduct, neglecting client cases and making misrepresentations.

Michael Imevbore Ojo, based in Houston, Texas, was suspended for 12 months by the State Bar of Texas for violations including neglect, failure to communicate and failure to cooperate with a state bar investigation. The Board of Immigration Appeals immediately suspended him in December 2005.

Anslem A. Efe, a Colorado-based legal practitioner, was indefinitely suspended in 2013 for unauthorised practice. Investigations found he engaged in employment as an attorney before the Executive Office for Immigration Review without authorisation and without lawful status in the United States.

Jude Chukwuma Ezeala, based in Maryland, was indefinitely suspended by the Court of Appeals of Maryland in 2017 for professional misconduct, including violations related to competence, diligence, communication, fees and safekeeping of client property.

READ ALSO:

• ASUU Crisis Deepens: Lagos Universities Join UNIBEN, Taraba on Indefinite Strike
• Lagos Power Outage: Ikeja Electric Blames TCN as Businesses, Homes Groan
• US Court Blocks Trump Visa Rule Limiting Stay of Foreign Students, Journalists

Olayemi Isaac Falusi, based in Maryland, was indefinitely suspended in 2018 for unauthorised practice of law. He took on three clients and practised law in Maryland before he was officially admitted to the state bar.

Anthony Emeka Nze Nwosu, based in Sacramento, California, was suspended by the New York Supreme Court Appellate Division in October 2023 for failure to comply with attorney registration obligations and complaints from seven clients. The board subsequently imposed an indefinite suspension from practising before US immigration courts in January 2024.

Osamwonyi E. Osagiede, based in New Hampshire, was indefinitely suspended in 2009 by the Supreme Judicial Court for Suffolk County, Massachusetts, after being found involved in unauthorised practice. He had filed dozens of official representation forms with immigration courts.

Martin E. Nwizubo, a Washington-based legal practitioner, was placed on “disability inactive” status by the Washington State Bar Association in 2016. This status applies to lawyers suffering physical or mental health challenges that incapacitate their ability to practise. The board affirmed his suspension in 2017. This is not a disciplinary sanction for misconduct.

In one notable case of posthumous discipline, Emelike Nwosuocha, a Miami-based lawyer, died on 21 July 2024 at age 64 — yet disciplinary proceedings against him continued for 508 days after his death. The case began with a medical negligence lawsuit. After Nwosuocha’s client’s case was dismissed with prejudice, the court ordered him to pay $5,310** in attorney fees to the opposing counsel. When he failed to pay, the defendant filed a grievance. Nwosuocha was suspended for **six months** in 2023 for failing to answer the grievance. In June 2024, he received a **one-year suspension** for non-compliance. A second suspension required him to file a notice affidavit by **17 July 2024**. He died four days later. On 11 December 2025, the Florida Supreme Court suspended Nwosuocha for **three years** and fined him **$1,250 — unaware he had died. The Florida Bar filed a notice of death on 16 January 2026, and the court subsequently vacated the suspension and dismissed the case.

The cases share a troubling common thread: vulnerable immigrant clients were targeted by lawyers who exploited their desperation to remain in the United States. In the Salis case, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez noted: “Vulnerable immigrants sought his legal assistance. Instead of helping them, he allegedly defrauded his clients out of tens of thousands of dollars.” In the Imasuen case, the client paid substantial legal fees but was allegedly abandoned without representation. In the Udeani case, the Minnesota Supreme Court specifically cited his failure to protect “vulnerable immigrants.” The sanctions demonstrate that US disciplinary authorities are actively pursuing misconduct by lawyers — regardless of nationality — who betray their professional obligations. However, the cases also highlight the vulnerability of immigrant communities to exploitation by unscrupulous legal practitioners.

Several key takeaways emerge from these cases. Disbarment is the most severe sanction, permanently revoking a lawyer’s licence to practise. Cases include Owolabi Salis, Neda Imasuen, Chinyere Ogoke, Ignatius Udeani, Taiwo Agbaje, Cyril Chukwurah and others. Suspension temporarily bars a lawyer from practice, ranging from nine months (Ejimakor) to indefinite (Efe, Ezeala, Osagiede). Common violations include client fund misappropriation, fraud, neglect of cases, failure to communicate, unauthorised practice and false statements about qualifications. Vulnerable immigrants were disproportionately targeted by sanctioned lawyers, particularly in immigration matters. Posthumous discipline occurred in the Nwosuocha case, where proceedings continued for 508 days after death before being vacated.

US-Based Nigerian Lawyers Disbarred: Full List of Fraud, Theft and Misconduct Cases