The Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Owerri Branch, Mazi Udegbolem, has denied allegations of misappropriating the N100 million financial support received from the Imo State Government, insisting that the funds were paid into the branch’s official account and spent on approved projects.
Udegbolem, who addressed journalists in Owerri, said the branch had documentary evidence, including bank statements, receipts and invoices, to support his account of how the money was managed.
He said the allegations, raised by a faction of lawyers in the state through petitions and social media publications, did not reflect the financial records available to the branch.
“My attention has been drawn to petitions and social media publications alleging criminal misappropriation. I wish to state the facts, supported by documents,” he said.
According to the chairman, the branch wrote to Governor Hope Uzodimma on August 10, 2026, through the state Attorney-General, requesting financial assistance for four projects.
The proposals included completing a cloakroom at the Justice Oputa High Court Complex in New Owerri, installing solar panels and air conditioners at the Bar Centre on Orlu Road, procuring at least two coaster buses and enrolling members in the National Health Insurance Scheme.
He said the branch, which has approximately 1,800 members, estimated the cost of installing solar equipment and air conditioners at N30 million.
Udegbolem explained that the governor approved N100 million in cash support and indicated that the state government would procure the two coaster buses directly. The cloakroom project, he added, was deferred pending a revised cost estimate.
He maintained that the N100 million was paid directly into the NBA Owerri Branch’s official account on August 24, 2026, and that no portion of the donation was deposited into a personal account.
“The sum of N100,000,000.00 was paid directly into NBA Owerri Branch official Account No. 4150005954 on 24th August, 2026. No part was paid into any personal account. Credit advice and bank statements are available,” he said.
The chairman said the account had an opening balance of N6.35 million before the donation, bringing the total funds available to approximately N106.35 million.
He added that the branch’s executive committee approved the projects at meetings held on September 1 and 9, while the decisions were ratified at a general meeting on September 26.
Udegbolem acknowledged that he had apologised at the meeting for failing to obtain prior approval from the general house before implementing time-sensitive expenditure associated with the NBA’s 2026 Annual General Conference. He said the apology was accepted and the actions ratified.
He also stated that the branch operated a joint-signatory bank account in accordance with the NBA Constitution, insisting that he had never managed the branch’s account as a sole signatory.
Breakdown of expenditure
Providing details of the expenditure, Udegbolem said N42.188 million was spent on logistics for the 2026 Annual General Conference, while N17.5 million went into installing a 32KVA solar system comprising two 12KWH inverters and 36 solar panels rated at 590 watts each.
He said the solar installation was completed on September 18 and commissioned on September 26 by the Permanent Secretary and Solicitor-General of Imo State, Gloria Egwuagu.
Other expenditures included N5.418 million for eight air conditioners and N3.4 million for enrolling 86 members in a health insurance scheme.
According to him, N1.6 million remaining from the N5 million initially earmarked for the health insurance programme was refunded to the branch’s welfare account on October 2.
He listed additional spending as N2.24 million for desktop computers and printers, N2.5 million for a public address system and amplifier, and N10.3 million to support 206 lawyers with N50,000 each, following a directive from the September general meeting.
The chairman also said N1.958 million was spent on repairs to the Bar Centre, including work on doors, ceilings and electrical wiring, while N1.93 million went into purchasing 41 executive seats.
Udegbolem put the total expenditure at N87.434 million and said the branch had a balance of N18.917 million in its Fidelity Bank account as of October 15, 2026.
He said the figures covered the government donation and the account’s opening balance, adding that supporting documents and photographic evidence were available for verification.
Investigation committee constituted
The NBA Owerri Branch chairman said he was aware that petitions had been submitted to external agencies and pledged to cooperate with any lawful investigation into the allegations.
He also disclosed that the NBA President had constituted a three-member committee in a letter dated October 14 to investigate the management of the government donation.
According to Udegbolem, the committee was given until October 30 to complete its assignment, and he had submitted the requested records within the stipulated period.
The allegations remain disputed, with the chairman maintaining that the branch’s financial records support his explanation of how the funds were received and spent.
