Owolabi Salis, a U.S.-based attorney who made international headlines on June 29 as the first Nigerian to travel to space, was previously indicted in 2023 and disbarred by the New York State Supreme Court following numerous complaints from clients who alleged he defrauded them of tens of thousands of dollars.
Despite receiving widespread recognition in the Nigerian media for his spaceflight milestone, Mr. Salis, 62, has a documented history of exploiting vulnerable immigrants seeking to legalize their status in the United States.
The disciplinary action culminated in 2022 when the New York Supreme Court officially disbarred him.
Records reviewed by Peoples Gazette reveal that Mr. Salis—who had also run unsuccessfully for the Lagos State governorship three times—failed to attend his disciplinary hearing or notify the grievance committee of his absence.
He made no contact by phone or email. Attempts to delay the proceedings were made belatedly and ultimately proved unsuccessful.
“It is ordered that…the respondent, Owolabi M. Salis, is disbarred and his
name stricken from the roll of attorneys and counsellors-at-law in the State of New York, effective the date hereof and continuing until further order of this court,” stated the disbarment decision in August 2023.
“It is further ordered that, effective immediately, pursuant to Judiciary Law § 90, the respondent, Owolabi M. Salis, is commanded to desist and refrain from (1) practicing law in any form,” stated the disbarment sheet.
Despite lacking proper credentials, Mr. Salis continued to present himself as a licensed attorney, often meeting with clients in the evenings, according to Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, who has filed seven criminal charges against the Nigerian national.
Many of his clients were immigrants grappling with uncertain legal status in the U.S., a vulnerability they say Mr. Salis exploited to further his fraudulent activities.
“This defendant(Mr Salis) allegedly continued to practice law after being disbarred for misconduct, and vulnerable immigrants sought his legal assistance,” Mr Gonzalez said.
“Instead of helping them, he allegedly defrauded his clients out of tens of thousands of dollars. We have no tolerance for this kind of alleged conduct, and my office will now seek to hold him accountable. I want to thank the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations for their assistance with the case.”
The 62-year-old was arraigned before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Heidi Cesare on August 21, 2023, facing multiple charges including third- and fourth-degree grand larceny, second-degree criminal contempt, first-degree schemes to defraud, immigrant assistance services fraud, and unauthorized legal practice. He was released on bail and ordered to appear again in October 2023. The current status of the case remains unclear.
On Sunday, Mr. Salis joined five others aboard Blue Origin’s NS-33 mission, a suborbital spaceflight that launched from West Texas and reached an altitude of approximately 105 kilometers, breaching the Kármán line—the recognized boundary of space. The flight was part of a new initiative by Blue Origin, the aerospace firm founded by Jeff Bezos.
Mr. Salis’ disbarment places him alongside other Nigerian figures such as President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, and Edo State Senator Ned Imasuen—both previously disbarred abroad on similar charges of client fraud.
(People’s gazatte)
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