A member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Owerri Branch, Chinedu Agu, has alleged that ₦12 million paid from the branch’s account for catering services during the 2026 Annual General Conference was transferred to an account bearing the name of its former Chairman, Prof. Mazi Udegbulem.
Agu, in a statement dated November 11, 2026, identified Chiemeka Eleberi as the person who initially received the money. He described her as a former Point of Sale (POS) operator at Imo State University and an acquaintance of the former branch chairman.
According to Agu, the ₦12 million was paid into Eleberi’s account on August 24, 2026, before being transferred in three instalments of ₦5 million, ₦5 million and ₦2 million to an account bearing the name Vitus Mazi Udegbulem.
He attached three Moniepoint transaction receipts to his statement, which he said showed the transfers made between August 25 and 27, 2026.
The allegation follows questions raised in a report by a Presidential Committee that examined the payment for catering services provided to NBA Owerri members during the conference.
According to an extract from the committee’s report reproduced by Agu, Udegbulem had earlier explained that the ₦12 million was paid to the caterer responsible for feeding members on August 24 and 25.
In his response to the committee on October 27, the former chairman reportedly said the account bearing Eleberi’s name was supplied by the caterer.
However, the committee reportedly contacted Adeglory Food Empire, identified as the vendor responsible for the catering services. The vendor allegedly denied knowing Eleberi or authorising her to receive payment on its behalf.
Building on the committee’s findings, Agu claimed he had uncovered further details about Eleberi and her alleged relationship with the former chairman.
He alleged that Udegbulem had informed Eleberi in August that a large sum of money would be paid into her POS account. Agu further claimed that after the ₦12 million entered the account, Moniepoint temporarily restricted the funds before the restriction was lifted.
He said Eleberi subsequently transferred the money to the account bearing Udegbulem’s name in three separate transactions because of her daily transfer limit.
The receipts attached to Agu’s statement reportedly show successful transfers of ₦5 million on August 25, another ₦5 million on August 26, and ₦2 million on August 27.
The three transactions amount to ₦12 million.
Agu’s claims have raised questions about the destination of the funds and the explanation that the account was provided by the catering vendor.
However, the receipts cited in the statement document the transfers from Eleberi’s account to the named beneficiary. They do not, on their own, establish the initial payment into her account or the purpose of the subsequent transactions.
The material presented also does not establish whether the money was used for catering or whether any financial misconduct occurred.
The former chairman’s response to Agu’s latest allegations was not included in the report.
The controversy has renewed attention on the disputed catering payment and the findings attributed to the Presidential Committee regarding the identity of the account holder and the person authorised to receive the money.
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