Members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Owerri Branch, Imo State, have impeached their Chairman, Prof. Mazi Udegbulem, following a prolonged leadership crisis over allegations of financial mismanagement and unauthorised expenditure of a ₦100 million donation received from the Imo State Government.
The controversy centres on funds donated by Governor Hope Uzodimma to the branch on August 24, 2026. The donation formed part of ₦350 million reportedly distributed among six NBA branches in the state, with Owerri receiving ₦100 million and the other branches getting ₦50 million each.
Some members had questioned whether the branch leadership obtained the necessary approval before spending the money and whether the expenditure was consistent with 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 spending.
Udegbulem, however, denied wrongdoing. He maintained that the money was paid directly into the branch’s official bank account and deployed to projects, conference activities and members’ welfare.
At an October press briefing, the chairman said the branch had an opening balance of about ₦6.35 million before the donation. He disclosed that 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 for 206 members, ₦5.41 million for air conditioners and ₦3.4 million for health insurance covering 86 members.
Other expenses included public-address systems, computers, repairs at the Bar Centre and 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. Members challenging the expenditure maintained, however, that the existence of completed projects did not settle questions about authorisation and accountability.
Leadership crisis deepens
The dispute escalated at the branch’s September 26 General Meeting, where members initially moved to remove the chairman. Agu subsequently challenged the procedure, arguing that it did not comply with the NBA Uniform Bye-Laws and that the process should begin afresh.
A fresh notice of removal was served on Udegbulem on September 28.
On October 2, a requisition for an Extraordinary General Meeting reportedly attracted 183 members. An attempt to hold the meeting on October 10 was unsuccessful after members encountered a locked Bar Centre entrance and police presence.
The meeting eventually held on October 15, during which Udegbulem relinquished the chair for discussions on the allegations against him.
Members dissolved an earlier investigative committee constituted under his leadership and appointed a new five-member panel chaired by Chidi Nworka.
The question of his removal was deferred until the October 31 General Meeting to allow the mandatory 21-day notice period to elapse.
Meanwhile, NBA President Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya had constituted a separate three-member national investigative committee in a letter dated October 14. The panel, comprising NBA General Secretary Afam Okeke, Third Vice-President Iniobong Pepple and Treasurer Esther Jimoh, was mandated to investigate the receipt, management and disbursement of the donation and submit its findings by October 30.
Udegbulem accepted the national investigation but rejected the branch-level committee, alleging that some of its members had already taken positions against him and could not guarantee him a fair hearing.
The disagreement also resulted in court proceedings challenging the branch investigation and the constitution of the local committee.
Questions over removal procedure
The impeachment has renewed attention on Article 13 of the NBA Uniform Bye-Laws for Branches, which sets out the procedure for removing elected branch officers.
The provision requires a written motion stating the grounds for removal, signed by at least five financial members and submitted 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.
However, details of the final removal vote, including attendance figures, voting results and the signed resolution, have not been made available in the accounts surrounding the development. Questions therefore remain about the extent to which the prescribed procedure was followed.
The allegations of financial mismanagement also remain allegations and should not be treated as an established finding of personal misappropriation.
The crisis has placed the management of the ₦100 million donation, internal accountability and compliance with the NBA’s rules at the centre of the dispute within the Owerri Branch.
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