Senator Imasuen Denies Fugitive, Fraud Allegations

Senator Neda Imasuen has vehemently denied accusations of fraud, bank robbery, and being a fugitive sought by the FBI. The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions, representing Edo South, described the claims as a politically motivated smear campaign aimed at damaging his reputation.

In a detailed rebuttal, Imasuen dismissed reports portraying him as an FBI fugitive or a former bank robbery mastermind as "false, malicious and politically motivated." He asserted that no court or law enforcement agency in the United States has ever declared him wanted or issued an arrest warrant. "I have never been declared a fugitive by any court or law enforcement agency in the United States or elsewhere," he stated, emphasizing his continued ability to travel freely between Nigeria and the U.S.

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I have never been declared a fugitive by any court or law enforcement agency in the United States or elsewhere.

The senator also refuted claims linking him to a $25 million fraud, stating no indictment or official investigative document identifies him as a suspect. He challenged his accusers to provide evidence, insisting none exists. Allegations of his involvement in a U.S. bank robbery before his return to Nigerian politics were also labeled as fictitious. Imasuen accused critics of circulating a photograph of another individual in handcuffs, falsely presenting it as his arrest by the FBI.

Addressing his legal career in the U.S., Imasuen acknowledged past disciplinary proceedings but clarified they were regulatory, not criminal, and did not involve allegations of fraud or dishonesty. He explained he was in Nigeria for his brother's funeral when the proceedings occurred and chose not to appeal, as he was pursuing an international appointment. He is now instructing legal counsel to restore his license to practice law, confident this will clarify the facts.

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false, malicious and politically motivated.