“₦100m Donation Controversy” — NBA Owerri Members Impeach Chairman, Udegbulem, Amid Financial Mismanagement Allegations

Members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Owerri Branch, Imo State, have impeached their Chairman, Prof. Mazi Udegbulem, following a prolonged leadership crisis arising from allegations of financial mismanagement and unauthorised expenditure of the ₦100 million donated to the Branch by the Imo State Government under Governor Hope Uzodimma.

The impeachment follows weeks of disagreements over the management of the donation, competing investigative committees, court proceedings and questions concerning compliance with the NBA Uniform Bye-Laws governing the removal of elected Branch officers.

The ₦100 million formed part of the ₦350 million reportedly distributed by the Imo State Government to six NBA branches in the state. While Owerri received ₦100 million, Orlu, Mbaise, Okigwe, Oru-Oguta and Mbano-Etiti received ₦50 million each.

The controversy began after some members questioned whether the Branch leadership had obtained the necessary approval before spending the funds and whether the expenditure reflected the purpose of the donation.

A former Branch General Secretary, Chinedu Agu, petitioned the NBA national leadership and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alleging financial mismanagement and unauthorised expenditure.

However, Udegbulem denied wrongdoing, maintaining that the donation, received on August 24, 2026, was paid directly into the Branch’s official bank account and used for projects, conference activities and members’ welfare.

At an October press briefing, he disclosed that the Branch had an opening balance of approximately ₦6.35 million before receiving the donation. According to him, approximately ₦87.43 million had been spent, leaving about ₦18.91 million in the account.

His expenditure breakdown included ₦42.18 million for Annual General Conference logistics, ₦17.5 million for a 32kVA solar power system, ₦10.3 million in welfare support to 206 members, ₦5.41 million for air conditioners and ₦3.4 million for health insurance covering 86 members.

Other expenditures included ₦2.5 million for public-address systems, ₦2.24 million for computers, ₦1.95 million for Bar Centre repairs and ₦1.93 million for executive chairs.

Udegbulem insisted that the projects were available for inspection and that relevant financial records had been submitted to the NBA national investigative committee. However, members challenging the expenditure maintained that the existence of projects did not resolve questions concerning authorisation and accountability.

The leadership crisis escalated during the Branch’s September 26 General Meeting, when members initially moved to remove the Chairman. Agu subsequently questioned the procedure adopted, arguing that the removal process did not comply with the Uniform Bye-Laws and should commence afresh.

A fresh Notice of Removal was consequently served on Udegbulem on September 28, 2026.

On October 2, a requisition for an Extraordinary General Meeting attracted 183 members, while an attempt to hold the meeting on October 10 was reportedly unsuccessful after members encountered a locked Bar Centre entrance and police presence.

The Extraordinary General Meeting eventually took place on October 15, during which Udegbulem relinquished the chair for discussions concerning allegations against him.

The meeting dissolved an earlier investigative committee constituted under his leadership and appointed a fresh five-member panel chaired by Chidi Nworka.

The removal question was deferred until the October 31 General Meeting because the mandatory 21-day notice period had not elapsed.

Meanwhile, NBA President Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya had, in a letter dated October 14, constituted a separate three-member national investigative committee comprising General Secretary Afam Okeke, Third Vice-President Iniobong Pepple and Treasurer Esther Jimoh.

The committee was mandated to examine the receipt, management and disbursement of the donation and submit its findings by October 30.

Udegbulem accepted the national investigation but rejected the Nworka-led Branch committee, alleging that some of its members had already taken positions against him and could not guarantee him a fair hearing.

The dispute subsequently became the subject of litigation, including proceedings challenging the Branch investigation and the constitution of the local committee.

Tensions also surfaced during a Branch meeting when former NBA Owerri Chairman, Chief Mike Ahamba, SAN, walked out over complaints concerning the conduct of proceedings. He subsequently called for intervention by the Association’s national leadership.

The Chairman’s impeachment has again brought attention to Article 13 of the Uniform Bye-Laws for NBA Branches, which requires a written removal motion stating the grounds, signed by at least five financial members and forwarded to the Branch Secretary at least 21 days before the relevant General Meeting.

The affected officer must also receive at least 14 days’ written notice, while removal requires a two-thirds majority of financial members present and voting.

Although Udegbulem has been impeached, the date of the final removal vote, attendance figures, voting results and signed resolution have not been made available in the supplied accounts, leaving questions concerning procedural compliance unresolved.

The allegations surrounding the ₦100 million donation also remain distinct from any finding of personal misappropriation, which has not been established in the available information.

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