undue influence
noun[U]
LAWukusasituationin which someone usestheirpowerorauthorityin anunfairway inordertoinfluencealegaldecision, adecisionabout who gets acontract, etc.:
Governmentofficialsdeniedthere had been anyundueinfluencein theawardof therenewalcontract.
ThePresidenthas beencriticizedforexercisingundueinfluenceover thejudiciaryandparliament.