A posse of shady Nigerian lawyers based in the U.S. have faced disciplinary sanctions, including suspension and disbarment, according to documents seen by Peoples Gazette. The lawyers’ offences ranged from fraud and theft to corruption.
The Gazette presents below a list of U.S.-based Nigerian lawyers suspended for professional misconduct. Some have been reinstated as of the time of publication.
Aloysius O. Ejimakor
Mr Ejimakor, a Nigerian lawyer in the U.S., was suspended from practising in the United States after making false claims about his official qualifications, according to a document from the U.S. Department of Justice. Mr Ejimakor faced disciplinary action before U.S. authorities for making false claims about his qualifications and was suspended from practising law in New York for nine months in 2004. The Office of General Counsel for the Executive Office for Immigration Review instituted disciplinary proceedings against Mr Ejimakor in July 2003 on the ground that the Nigerian lawyer allegedly violated 8 C.F.R. 0 1003.102(f)(l), by making false statements about his qualifications. He has not been reinstated since his suspension.
Abiola O. Adesioye
Based in the District of Columbia, Ms Adesioye was suspended in July 2025 by the Board of Immigration Appeals from practising law before the board, the immigration courts, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This decision followed a suspension order issued by the District of Columbia Court of Appeals on March 25, 2025. Her suspension began after a joint petition from the Disciplinary Counsel for the Executive Office for Immigration Review and the Disciplinary Counsel for DHS, citing grounds for immediate suspension under federal regulations. The board granted the petition, restating the need for immediate action pending the final resolution of the disciplinary proceedings.
Emelike Nwosuocha
Though Mr Nwosuocha died at age 64 on July 21, 2024, amid disciplinary proceedings, the state Supreme Court posthumously suspended him for three years in 2024 for misconduct, including failing to provide an affidavit required by a previous suspension and failing to pay attorney fees to a defendant in a medical negligence lawsuit. In 2023, Mr Nwosuocha was suspended for six months for failing to answer the defendant’s grievance in August 2023. In 2024, the board affirmed that Mr Nwosuocha’s suspension was appropriate and suspended him from practising law before the board, the immigration courts, and the DHS.
Michael Ozulumba
Based in Massachusetts, Mr Ozulumba was suspended from practising law before the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) for two years after being found guilty of professional misconduct, neglecting client cases, and making misrepresentations. In 2027, the board also affirmed Mr Ozulumba’s two-year suspension, as well as the immigration courts’ and DHS’s suspension.
Michael Imevbore Ojo
Mr Ojo, based in Houston, Texas, was suspended from the practice of law for 12 months by the Evidentiary Panel of the District 4C05 Grievance Committee, State Bar of Texas, for numerous violations of the state’s rules of professional conduct, including neglect, failure to communicate, and failure to cooperate with the state bar investigation. The board immediately suspended him on December 2, 2005, based on his 12-month suspension in Texas, pending final disposition of his case. The board also affirmed Mr Ojo’s suspension before the immigration courts and the DHS.
Anslem A. Efe
A Colorado-based legal practitioner, Mr Efe was suspended indefinitely in 2013 for unauthorised practice. Disciplinary investigations found that Mr Efe engaged in employment as an attorney before EOIR without authorisation, in violation of United States immigration law, and without lawful status in the United States. The board ratified his indefinite suspension from practising before the immigration courts and DHS. However, it has not reinstated him.
Jude Chukwuma Ezeala
For professional misconduct, the Court of Appeals of Maryland indefinitely suspended Mr Ezeala, a legal practitioner based in Maryland, from practising law in 2017. The board ratified his indefinite suspension from practising before the Immigration Courts and the DHS.
Olayemi Isaac Falusi
For professional misconduct bordering on unauthorised practice of law, taking on three clients and practising law in Maryland before he was officially admitted to the state bar, Mr Falusi was indefinitely suspended by the Court of Appeals of Maryland in 2018. The board upheld Mr Falusi’s indefinite suspension before the Immigration Courts and the DHS.
Anthony Emeka Nze Nwosu
For professional misconduct, including failure to comply with his attorney registration obligations and complaints against him by seven of his clients, Mr Nwosu, an immigration attorney based in Sacramento, California, was suspended from practising law in New York by the state’s Supreme Court Appellate Division, Third Judicial Department, on October 5, 2023. Following this suspension, the board imposed an indefinite suspension from practising before U.S. immigration courts on January 3, 2024.
Ginikanwa Chinaemerem Okedi
In 2020, the Court of Appeals of Maryland indefinitely suspended Ms Okedi for professional misconduct, including mishandling client’s money or trust accounts, dishonest behaviour, fraud, and misrepresentation that harmed the administration of justice, among other issues. The board also affirmed her indefinite suspension before the immigration courts and the DHS.
Osamwonyi E. Osagiede
Based in New Hampshire, Mr Osagiede was first indefinitely suspended in 2009 by the Supreme Judicial Court for Suffolk County, Massachusetts, after finding he was involved in unauthorised practice. He had filed dozens of official representation forms (Form EOIR-28) with the immigration courts. The board upheld Mr Osagiede’s indefinite suspension before the immigration courts and the DHS. He has not been reinstated.
Martin E. Nwizubo
A Washington-based legal practitioner, Mr Nwizubo was suspended indefinitely based on “disability inactive” status, not because he violated any law or committed any crime. The Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) placed him on disability inactive status in 2016. A legal practitioner is placed on disability inactive status when suffering physical or mental health challenges that incapacitate their ability to practice. In 2017, the board affirmed Mr Nwizubo’s suspension based on disability inactive status. He has not been reinstated as of the time of filing this report.