— Chinedu Agu Says Withdrawal Is Not Enough, Demands Full Restitution
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A former Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Owerri Branch, Chinedu Agu, has called for the recovery of funds allegedly misappropriated during the tenure of the Branch’s former Chairman, Prof. Mazi Udegbulem, following the withdrawal of court cases instituted against members of the Branch and those involved in investigating its finances.
Agu, a solicitor and notary public, maintained that although Udegbulem’s decision to discontinue the suits was commendable, it did not amount to complete restitution, insisting that all funds allegedly diverted or improperly expended must be identified, accounted for and returned to the Branch.
In an article titled “Now That the Four Suits Have Been Discontinued, Next Is Restitution,” dated Sunday, November 15, 2026, Agu called for an independent professional audit of the Branch’s finances, followed by the establishment of a recovery committee to retrieve any money found to have been misappropriated.
His comments followed the filing of notices of discontinuance in proceedings commenced by Udegbulem in different courts in Imo State.
Three notices of discontinuance accompanied the article, although Agu referred to four suits. The documents provided did not identify the fourth suit or contain its notice of discontinuance.
The first notice, dated November 12, 2026, was filed before the High Court of Imo State, Oguta Judicial Division, sitting at Umuokanne, in Suit No. HOG/86/2026.
In the suit, Udegbulem was listed as the plaintiff, while Chukwuemeka E. Anyanwu, Olebara Oguguo Paschal, Godwin Ikechukwu Umar and Asilonu Darlington, Esq., were named as defendants for themselves and as representatives of NBA Owerri Branch members supporting the removal or impeachment of the Branch Chairman.
The notice was signed by Godson Emeka Nwachukwu, Esq., of G-Killiwe-Nwachukwu & Co., as counsel to the plaintiff, and bore a court registrar’s stamp dated November 12, 2026.
The second notice, dated November 13, 2026, concerned Suit No. HAM/199/2026 before the High Court of Imo State, Ahiazu Judicial Division.
The matter was an application for the enforcement of fundamental rights under Sections 36(1), 36(4), 36(5) and 46 of the 1999 Constitution.
The respondents were Chidi B. Nworka, Esq., sued for himself and as Chairman representing members of the committee constituted to investigate the disbursement of the ₦100 million donation made to the NBA Owerri Branch by the Imo State Government, and the Registered Trustees of the Nigerian Bar Association.
The notice was signed by A. I. Ibe, Esq., of Hoc Homefront Solicitors, and bore a court registrar’s stamp of November 13, 2026.
The third notice was filed before the Federal High Court, Owerri Judicial Division, in Suit No. FHC/OW/CS/120/2026.
In that suit, Udegbulem, described as Chairman of the NBA Owerri Branch, instituted proceedings against the Registered Trustees of the NBA, Chidi B. Nworka and Victoria Chioma Joshua Monye, for themselves and as members of the five-member committee constituted on October 15, 2026.
The notice was dated November 13, 2026, and signed by Godson Emeka Nwachukwu, Esq., and Bonaventure S. Agbodike, Esq. It also bore a Federal High Court cashier’s stamp of the same date.
Each of the three notices indicated that Udegbulem was discontinuing the relevant suit in its entirety.
Reacting to the development, Agu said he had read reports that the former Chairman had discontinued four cases which, according to him, were instituted to frustrate efforts by members of the Branch to demand accountability.
He explained that opinions among lawyers differed on the reasons for the withdrawals.
According to him, some commentators believed the suits had become academic because the impeachment had already taken place and the committee report which Udegbulem sought to restrain had been presented.
Others reportedly believed that the former Chairman would not have withdrawn the cases if he had not been removed, while some interpreted his decision as an indication of remorse.
Agu wrote that both positions deserved consideration.
“To my mind, both sides have a point,” he stated, adding that events over the preceding three months had raised serious questions about the former Chairman’s conduct.
He recalled Udegbulem’s New Month message of November 1, 2026, which he described as showing “halfhearted contrition”.
Agu argued that the message might have been received differently by members of the Branch if it had been followed immediately by the withdrawal of the cases or issued after they had already been discontinued.
He alleged that despite the message, supporters of the former Chairman initiated a counter-requisition, which he maintained had no place under the NBA Constitution.
According to Agu, the development was followed by the filing of another suit seeking to stop the Branch meeting scheduled for November 10, 2026, and the disturbances he alleged occurred during that meeting.
He also claimed that Udegbulem and his lawyer appeared in court the day after the impeachment to pursue another matter.
Agu further alleged that preparations had been underway to institute a fresh action challenging the impeachment before emerging allegations concerning the Branch’s finances affected that plan.
He used an Igbo proverb to illustrate his position, saying that if a hunter had immediately carried away an antelope after shooting it, its neck would not have become misshapen.
Agu also employed strong language in criticising attempts to obstruct efforts to investigate alleged financial wrongdoing.
“Indeed a thief that steals from the villagers and makes efforts to stop the villagers from gathering at the village square to discuss the theft is an unrepentant thief with a dangerous propensity of stealing more,” he wrote.
The statement formed part of Agu’s criticism and did not constitute a judicial finding that Udegbulem or any other individual had committed theft.
Despite his criticisms, Agu acknowledged what he regarded as positive steps taken by the former Chairman.
He described the discontinuance of the suits as commendable and disclosed that he had received information indicating that Udegbulem had returned the keys to three buses belonging to the NBA Branch.
He stated that the reported return of the bus keys was also commendable.
However, Agu maintained that the actions were insufficient to conclude that accountability had been achieved.
“But I do not think the restitution is complete,” he declared.
He alleged that additional information concerning possible diversion and misappropriation of Branch funds continued to emerge.
According to him, new details had surfaced on Friday and Saturday, prompting further concerns about the management of the Branch’s finances.
Agu argued that the emerging allegations demonstrated the need to complete the restitution process rather than merely abandon the court cases.
He maintained that the discontinuance should mark the beginning of a more comprehensive effort to account for funds allegedly diverted or improperly spent.
“But now that it appears the Professor has started retracing his steps, it is important that members of the Bar are not inundated with the fresh sordid facts that continue to emerge daily. Even so, this restitution must be complete,” he stated.
Explaining what he considered complete restitution, Agu called for the return of funds allegedly traced to the former Chairman and other individuals implicated in the financial controversy.
He also demanded an accounting of money reportedly expended on logistics during the NBA Annual General Conference (AGC).
“The funds traced to the former Chairman and his partners in crime must be returned to the Bar. The monies mismanaged at the AGC in the name of AGC logistics must be returned to the coffers of the Bar,” he stated.
“This is what full restitution entails, and it is only then that the former Chairman can be said to have demonstrated deep pocketed and complete contrition.”
Agu argued that restitution was an important consequence of wrongdoing under both legal and religious principles.
He referred to the biblical account of Zacchaeus in Luke Chapter 19, where Zacchaeus pledged to give half his possessions to the poor and restore fourfold anything he had wrongfully taken.
“Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold,” Agu quoted from the passage.
He explained that if Zacchaeus had taken two denarii from someone, he would have been required under his pledge to restore eight.
Agu also referred to the biblical statement, “This day is salvation come to this house,” concluding that restitution was essential to demonstrating genuine repentance.
“Without restitution, contrition is not complete, and only after restitution does ‘salvation’ come,” he wrote.
Continuing his argument, Agu cited Nehemiah Chapter 5, where wealthy individuals were directed to restore lands, vineyards, oliveyards, houses and other possessions obtained through exploitation.
He quoted the instruction: “Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses…”
He also referred to the account of Judas returning the thirty pieces of silver following his betrayal of Jesus, as recorded in Matthew Chapter 27.
Agu further cited Philemon Chapter 1, where the Apostle Paul offered to take responsibility for any debt owed by Onesimus.
“If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account,” he quoted.
According to Agu, the passages reinforced his position that expressions of regret should be accompanied by efforts to make restitution where wrongdoing had occurred.
“The need for restitution cannot be overstated,” he maintained.
He argued that the issue extended beyond personal repentance to the institutional responsibility of the NBA to ensure accountability in the management of its finances.
According to him, recovering misappropriated funds would send a clear message to future Branch chairmen that public office within the association should not be regarded as an opportunity for personal enrichment.
“It has not only spiritual consequences but also civil consequences for us as an institution,” Agu wrote.
He maintained that appropriate consequences for financial misconduct would help discourage similar incidents in the future, referring to Singapore as an example of a country he considered intolerant of corruption among public officials.
Turning to the investigations conducted into the Branch’s finances, Agu disclosed that he had carefully examined the reports of two committees.
He reproduced recommendations from the committee headed by Chidi B. Nworka, which investigated financial transactions involving the Branch.
According to the recommendations quoted by Agu, the committee called for the immediate production of outstanding financial records and the establishment of an independent professional audit panel.
The proposed panel would be responsible for reconciling all the Branch’s accounts and examining relevant transactions involving funds provided by the Imo State Government.
“The Committee recommends that the General House should immediately and, as a matter of urgency, direct the production of all outstanding financial records and commission an independent professional audit panel for the reconciliation of all the Branch accounts,” the report stated.
The committee further recommended examining the personal bank accounts of the Branch Chairman, Treasurer, Chairman and Alternate Chairman of the AGC Logistics Committee, as well as other accounts through which funds meant for the Branch were allegedly transferred.
It said the examination should extend to relevant business accounts maintained by the individuals concerned.
The report also recommended that the affected officers and other persons involved should be required to provide specific explanations for identified financial transactions.
In its assessment, the committee alleged gross misappropriation of Branch funds and violations of the NBA Constitution and Uniform Bye-Law.
It attributed the alleged major responsibility to Udegbulem and identified the Treasurer, Ms. Olachi Madona Anosike, as having played a lesser role.
“The Committee is of the firm view that a case of gross misappropriation of Branch funds, as well as that of gross violation of the provisions of the NBA Constitution and the Uniform Bye-law have been committed majorly by the Chairman, Prof. Mazi Udegbulem, and to a lesser extent, by the Treasurer, Ms Olachi Madona Anosike,” the report stated.
The committee criticised the Treasurer’s handling of her responsibilities, alleging recklessness and incompetence in managing the Branch’s finances.
It also raised questions about an additional ₦30 million reportedly received from the Imo State Government for the procurement of solar panels and air conditioners.
“The Committee recommends that this Branch should obtain from the Branch Chairman an explanation as to why he has till date not reported the N30m he received from government for solar panel and air conditioners, and to reveal which bank account this sum was paid into,” the report stated.
The committee recommended that the Branch consider appropriate disciplinary proceedings against the former Chairman, Treasurer and any other persons found to have participated in the alleged misconduct.
However, Agu proposed that an independent audit and recovery process should precede any disciplinary action.
He called on the Branch to constitute an independent professional audit panel at its November 2026 monthly meeting to examine the relevant accounts and transactions.
According to him, the audit should establish whether funds were misappropriated, identify those responsible for any established irregularities and determine the amounts requiring recovery.
He maintained that only after the financial examination had been completed should the General Meeting consider establishing a committee to recover money found to have been lost.
“After the accounts have been audited and all the embezzled and misappropriated funds identified and quantified, the General Meeting can then consider setting up a Recovery Committee to recover all money lost from the appropriate persons,” Agu stated.
He further argued that disciplinary proceedings should be considered as a last resort where any of the officers failed to cooperate with either the audit panel or the proposed recovery committee.
“Initiating disciplinary procedures should only be the last resort if any of the officers refuse to cooperate with either the audit panel or the Recovery Committee,” he said.
Agu maintained that the proposed approach would help establish a lasting culture of financial accountability within the NBA.
“This, to my mind, will help entrench a culture of accountability in our NBA,” he concluded.
The latest statement follows an earlier publication by Agu on November 11, 2026, in which he raised allegations concerning ₦12 million reportedly paid from the Branch’s account for catering arrangements during the Annual General Conference.
In that earlier statement, Agu alleged that the money passed through an account belonging to Chiemeka Eleberi before being transferred in three instalments into an account bearing Udegbulem’s name.
Udegbulem had previously stated in a WhatsApp communication to the Presidential Committee that the ₦12 million was paid to a caterer.
The claims surrounding those transactions remain disputed and have not been established by an independent audit or judicial finding in the material provided.
Similarly, the allegations of misappropriation, the committee’s conclusions and Agu’s demands for restitution remain distinct from any final determination of civil or criminal liability.
Although the three notices supplied show that Udegbulem sought to discontinue the identified proceedings, the documents do not establish his reasons for doing so or amount to an admission of the financial allegations against him.
The material also does not contain a fresh response from Udegbulem to Agu’s latest demands.
Notice.pdf
Notice1.pdf
Notice2.pdf
Agu nevertheless maintained that the withdrawal of the court cases and the reported return of the Branch buses should be followed by a complete examination of the association’s finances and the recovery of any funds established to have been improperly expended.
He urged the NBA Owerri Branch to use the controversy to strengthen financial oversight and ensure that future officers are held accountable for the management of members’ resources.
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