₦100m Grant Controversy: Nba Owerri Chairman Breaks Silence, Rejects Diversion Claims, Details Spending

By ThankGod Emeh

The Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Owerri Branch, Dr. Mazi Udegbulem, has finally broken his silence over allegations of misappropriating a ₦100 million grant from the Imo State Government, releasing a detailed account of the funds and challenging investigators to verify every expenditure.

Addressing Journalists on October 19, 2026 at Imo NUJ Press Centre, Udegbulem denied diverting the money, insisting that the entire grant was paid directly into the association’s official account, with ₦87.43 million spent on branch activities, infrastructure and members’ welfare, while ₦18.92 million remained in the account.

He explained that the branch had an existing balance of ₦6,351,718 before receiving the government grant on August 24, bringing its total available funds to ₦106,351,718.

“No part was paid into any personal account. Credit advice and bank statements are available,” he declared, identifying Fidelity Bank account number 4150005954 as the branch account into which the money was paid.

Tracing the origin of the grant, Udegbulem disclosed that the branch, through the Imo State Attorney-General, wrote to Governor Hope Uzodimma on August 10, seeking support for four projects.

The requests included completing the cloakroom at the Justice Oputa High Court Complex, New Owerri, installing solar panels and air conditioners at the Bar Centre, acquiring at least two coaster buses and enrolling members in the National Health Insurance Scheme.

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According to him, the solar and air-conditioning project carried an estimated cost of ₦30 million, while the proposed health insurance scheme was intended to benefit the branch’s approximately 1,800 members.

The request was jointly signed by Udegbulem and the Branch Secretary, I. K. Ujah, Esq., ACArb.

He clarified that the governor approved ₦100 million in cash support but opted to procure the two coaster buses directly, meaning no portion of the grant was released for their purchase.

“We await delivery of the buses. The Cloakroom project was deferred pending revised costing,” he stated.

Giving a breakdown of the spending, Udegbulem revealed that ₦42,188,000 went into logistics for the 2026 Annual General Conference, while ₦17.5 million was spent on a 32KVA solar system comprising two 12KWH inverters and 36 solar panels of 590 watts each.

He said the solar project followed an August 27 proposal and September 2 offer, with a completion certificate issued on September 18. The installation was commissioned on September 26 by Mrs. Gloria Egwuagu, identified in the statement as PS/SG.

Other expenditures included ₦5,418,000 for eight air conditioners, ₦2,240,000 for desktop computers and printers, and ₦2.5 million for a public address system, comprising ₦2.1 million for the sound system and ₦400,000 for an amplifier.

The chairman also disclosed that ₦10.3 million was distributed to 206 lawyers at ₦50,000 each, following a directive of the September general meeting, with bank transfer records and receipts available.

On health insurance, he revealed that ₦3.4 million covered the enrolment of 86 persons at ₦39,473.77 each, alongside charges.

He added that ₦5 million had initially been earmarked for the scheme, but the unspent ₦1.6 million was refunded into the Branch Welfare Account by the Welfare Secretary on October 2, with supporting receipt.

Additional expenses included ₦1,958,250 for repairs to the Bar Centre, including doors, ceilings and electrical wiring, and ₦1.93 million for 41 executive seats purchased under Invoice T201 from Divine Grace Investment, dated September 7.

Udegbulem maintained that the projects and purchases could be physically verified at the Bar Centre on Orlu Road, Owerri, while supporting vouchers, invoices, receipts and photographic evidence were available for inspection.

The chairman, who assumed office on June 27, 2026, further dismissed suggestions that he exercised personal control over the branch’s finances.

“At no time did I operate any Branch account as sole signatory,” he insisted, explaining that changes to the account signatories were effected on June 30 and August 1, in line with the NBA Constitution.

He stated that the Branch Executive Committee approved the projects at meetings held on September 1 and 9, with the decisions subsequently ratified at the September 26 general meeting.

Udegbulem, however, acknowledged proceeding with time-sensitive conference expenditures without first securing the general house’s approval, for which he apologised.

According to him, “The apology was accepted and steps ratified.”

The financial controversy has meanwhile deepened following the emergence of two investigative panels examining the same grant.

Udegbulem revealed that the NBA National President, through a letter dated October 14, constituted a three-member investigative committee with an October 30 deadline and directed that the relevant financial records be submitted within 24 hours.

He maintained that he complied fully with the directive and submitted all requested documents.

The chairman also confirmed that petitions had been lodged with external agencies, pledging to cooperate with any lawful investigation.

“No finding or indictment of misappropriation has been made against me by any agency to date,” he declared.

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On the extraordinary general meeting held on October 15, Udegbulem explained that he attended in compliance with the NBA President’s directive that the meeting should proceed, with members of the national investigative committee present as observers.

However, the meeting asked him to step aside and constituted a separate five-member committee to investigate the receipt and expenditure of the ₦100 million.

The committee comprises Chidi Nworka as Chairman, F. C. Obinna, Chukwurah Onuorah and Chima Ezike as members, with Victoria Joshua serving as Secretary.

He cited an executive summary of the meeting’s resolutions dated October 16 and signed by Branch Secretary I. K. Ujah, which he attached to his statement as Exhibit A.

According to the document, the extraordinary meeting also set aside an earlier fact-finding committee established by the Branch Executive Committee following a September 25 general meeting resolution, replacing it with the new five-member panel.

The committee is expected to report at the branch’s monthly general meeting scheduled for October 31, a day after the national panel’s deadline.

Udegbulem questioned the duplication of investigations, expressing concerns over possible bias and conflicting findings.

“To avoid multiplicity and conflict, I have formally requested the President’s Three-Member Committee to harmonize both processes and I have placed my concerns on likelihood of bias before it,” he stated.

Despite the controversy, the chairman maintained that he remained accountable for decisions taken under his leadership and would present original financial documents before any lawful investigative body.

“I assumed leadership of this great Branch to serve. I accept leadership responsibility for all Executive decisions. I have preserved all records. There was no personal enrichment or diversion,” he declared.

He urged investigators and the public to examine the records and inspect the completed projects to establish whether the funds were genuinely applied for the benefit of the branch.

The chairman’s financial breakdown reconciles the ₦87,434,250 reported expenditure and ₦18,917,468 closing balance against total available funds of ₦106,351,718, comprising the government grant and the branch’s previous balance.

However, the statement records the separate ₦1.6 million health insurance refund into the Branch Welfare Account without specifying how that account relates to the Fidelity Bank closing balance.

The supporting financial documents and expenditure claims have yet to be independently verified, while the two investigative committees are expected to deliver their findings by October 30 and 31, respectively.