NBA OWERRI CRISIS: CHINEDU AGU QUESTIONS DATING OF COURT DOCUMENTS, RAISES FRESH ALLEGATIONS

The leadership dispute within the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Owerri Branch, has taken another turn following fresh allegations by former Branch Secretary, Chinedu Agu, who has questioned the chronology of documents reportedly tendered in one of the lawsuits arising from the controversy.

In a statement dated November 1, 2026, titled Prof. Mazi Udegbulem’s Theatre of Thuggery, Misnamed NBA Owerri Meeting, Agu raised concerns about the October 31 General Meeting and the handling of documents relating to the ongoing dispute over an alleged ₦100 million expenditure.

Agu alleged that the meeting was disrupted by individuals who interrupted proceedings and intimidated members seeking to question the Branch Chairman, Prof. Mazi Udegbulem, about the disputed expenditure.

He also questioned the authenticity and chronology of a withdrawal letter attributed to one of the signatories to a notice seeking the Chairman’s removal.

According to Agu, the letter reportedly bears September 28 as its date but was allegedly written and received on October 30.

He questioned how a document allegedly created on October 30 could have appeared among exhibits in a court action said to have been filed on October 29.

The controversy is connected to an earlier Extraordinary General Meeting held on October 15, during which members reportedly constituted a five-member committee headed by Chidi Nworka to investigate the alleged ₦100 million expenditure.

The Branch Chairman subsequently instituted court proceedings challenging aspects of the meeting and the committee’s mandate.

One of the matters is before the High Court of Imo State sitting at Ahiazu Mbaise, while another is pending before the Federal High Court in Owerri. The proceedings remain ongoing.

Agu further alleged that members were prevented from fully deliberating on the committee’s work during the October 31 meeting and expressed concern about the absence of the report of a separate three-member committee constituted by the NBA President, Oyinkansola Badejo-Okunsanya, SAN.

The latest allegations have not been independently established, and the material reviewed did not contain a response from Prof. Udegbulem to the specific claims raised in Agu’s November 1 statement.

The dispute places renewed attention on internal democracy, financial accountability, procedural fairness and the importance of resolving disagreements within professional associations through established constitutional and legal processes.