NBA Owerri Past Chairmen Back October 10 Meeting Over ₦100m Dispute

The Committee of Past Chairmen of the Nigerian Bar Association, Owerri Branch, has intervened in the ongoing dispute over ₦100 million received from the Imo State Government, backing the requisitioned General Meeting scheduled for October 10.

The intervention followed an emergency meeting of former Branch Chairmen held on October 3 at the chambers of Emeka Nwagwu, SAN.

In a communiqué issued afterward, the committee said the meeting requested by Branch members should be allowed to proceed to conclusion in accordance with the NBA Uniform Bye-Laws.

The controversy centres on the expenditure of the ₦100 million donation received by the Branch from the Imo State Government.

The Branch Chairman, Dr. Mazi Udegbulem, had earlier disclosed that about ₦81.91 million had been spent on projects and activities including Bar Centre works, conference logistics, air-conditioning, sound equipment, chairs, health-insurance enrolment and repairs to the Branch bus.

That explanation did not end the dispute.

A removal motion was subsequently submitted against the Chairman, a committee was constituted to investigate the expenditure, and a petition was also reportedly lodged with the EFCC.

The dispute took a further turn when 183 financial members requisitioned an Extraordinary General Meeting for October 10, far above the 25-member threshold they said was required under Article 11(4) of the Uniform Bye-Law.

Past Chairmen call for due process

The former Branch Chairmen have now taken the position that the requisitioned meeting should proceed so members can ventilate their concerns through the Branch’s internal constitutional process.

They also called on all parties to de-escalate the dispute and avoid incendiary statements before the meeting.

The committee further raised concern about the relationship between Branch leadership and the executive arm of the Imo State Government, stressing that the institutional independence of the Bar must be protected.

That element of the communiqué broadens the controversy beyond how the ₦100 million was spent.

The dispute now also touches on Bar independence, internal accountability and compliance with the Uniform Bye-Law.

For LegalLinkz, the key point is that no finding has yet established personal diversion of the funds by the Branch Chairman or any other individual.

The October 10 meeting is therefore likely to become the central forum for the Branch to determine the next steps while preserving fair hearing and procedural regularity.