The five-member Investigation and Fact-Finding Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Owerri Branch, has accused its impeached Chairman, Prof. Mazi Udegbulem, and the Branch Treasurer, Olachi Madona Anosike, of financial mismanagement and violations of the Association’s governing rules in connection with the ₦100 million donated to the Branch by the Imo State Government.
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In its final report dated October 31, 2026, the committee alleged that ₦34 million was disbursed to five recipients on the same day the Branch received the donation, without adequate explanation or supporting documentation. It also questioned a separate ₦30 million allegedly received by Udegbulem from the government for the installation of solar panels and air conditioners.
The committee consequently recommended an independent professional audit of the Branch’s accounts, including relevant personal and business accounts through which the funds may have passed, and disciplinary proceedings against officers found responsible for the alleged irregularities.
The findings emerged amid the leadership crisis that culminated in Udegbulem’s impeachment following disagreements over the management and expenditure of the government donation.
The committee was constituted at the Branch’s Extraordinary General Meeting held on October 15, 2026, at the NBA Owerri Bar Centre, Old High Court Complex, Orlu Road, Owerri.
Its members were Chidi B. Nworka, Chairman; F.C. Obinna; M. Chukwura Onuorah; Chima Ezike; and Victoria C. Joshua, Secretary.
The committee was mandated to investigate the application for, receipt, management and disbursement of the ₦100 million, which was said to have been provided by the Imo State Government to support the attendance of Branch members at the NBA Annual General Conference held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, in August 2026.
It was also directed to submit its findings and recommendations at the Branch General Meeting scheduled for October 31.
According to the report, the committee invited memoranda and relevant documents from Branch members and separately wrote to the Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Financial Secretary, Publicity Secretary, Social Secretary and Welfare Secretary.
It also sought information from the Attorney-General of Imo State, the Captain of the NBA Owerri Branch Football Team and the Chairman of the Branch’s Annual General Conference Logistics Committee.
The investigators conducted oral interviews with persons who submitted memoranda and other relevant individuals, including the Chief Registrar of the High Court and the Secretary of the Imo State Judicial Service Commission.
However, the committee stated that its attempt to interview the Attorney-General of Imo State was unsuccessful because he was absent from his office when members visited.
On the receipt of the donation, the committee disclosed that ₦100 million was credited to the Branch’s Fidelity Bank account on August 24, 2026.
It stated that the transaction notification identified Paul Obinatu, whom the report described as the Attorney-General of Imo State, as the creditor.
According to the report, five payments totalling ₦34 million were made from the account on the same day.
The committee identified the beneficiaries as Ade Glory Food Empire, which received ₦4 million; Chiemeka Elebiri, ₦12 million; Daniella Obianuju Ohuabunwa, ₦10 million; Kelechi Ogugbuajah, ₦2 million; and Chikaima Lilian Ugoanyanwu, ₦6 million.
The investigators questioned the transactions, stating that the ₦34 million appeared to correspond to a previously prepared cheque signed by the Chairman and Treasurer without a named recipient.
The committee said it recognised Kelechi Ogugbuajah and Chikaima Lilian Ugoanyanwu as members of the Branch but could not establish the identities of Chiemeka Elebiri and Daniella Obianuju Ohuabunwa or the services for which they received ₦12 million and ₦10 million respectively.
It further disclosed that its interview with the Treasurer and examination of documents presented by her indicated that approximately ₦42 million was spent on logistics for the NBA Annual General Conference.
However, the committee said the Treasurer could not explain how the ₦34 million cheque-related expenditure became ₦42 million.
The report also stated that the Treasurer could not satisfactorily explain the payments of ₦4 million to Ade Glory Food Empire, ₦12 million to Chiemeka Elebiri and ₦10 million to Daniella Obianuju Ohuabunwa, or identify the services for which the funds were released.
According to the committee, the Treasurer admitted that she had neither seen receipts nor invoices relating to the conference logistics expenditure and that none had been submitted to her.
The investigators raised a further question concerning Daniella Obianuju Ohuabunwa, who allegedly received ₦10 million on August 24, 2026, for an undisclosed purpose.
The committee stated that the same individual received another ₦1.93 million in connection with executive chairs purportedly purchased by the Chairman.
It consequently demanded an explanation of Udegbulem’s relationship, if any, with Ohuabunwa, the purpose of the transactions and her role in the alleged procurement.
The report also disclosed that the Chairman informed members of the Branch Executive Committee about the receipt of the ₦100 million at an executive meeting held after the 2026 NBA Annual General Conference.
Another major allegation concerned a separate ₦30 million which the committee claimed Udegbulem received from the Imo State Government for the installation of solar panels and air conditioners.
The investigators alleged that the money had not been properly disclosed to the Branch and questioned the Chairman’s position that the ₦100 million donation was intended strictly for conference-related expenditure rather than projects.
In its recommendations, the committee demanded that Udegbulem explain why he had not reported the separate ₦30 million and disclose the bank account into which it was allegedly paid.
The report’s allegation concerning the additional ₦30 million has not been independently established by the documents reproduced in the supplied excerpts.
The committee also addressed Udegbulem’s refusal to participate in its investigation.
According to the report, the Chairman declined to respond to the substance of the committee’s requests and instead petitioned for its members to recuse themselves.
He invoked the principle of nemo judex in causa sua, meaning that no person should be a judge in their own cause, and raised concerns about possible bias arising from earlier adverse publications by the committee’s Chairman and some members.
Udegbulem also questioned the standing of the committee’s Secretary and complained about the existence of multiple investigative committees, arguing that parallel inquiries could produce conflicting findings.
The committee said it replied to his petition and advised him to take the opportunity to respond to its requests, but he declined.
It further accused him of pursuing legal proceedings intended to prevent the investigation from continuing.
The report identified two suits: HAM/199/2026, filed at the Imo State High Court, Aboh Mbaise, against Chidi B. Nworka and another party; and FHC/OW/CS/120/2026, filed at the Federal High Court, Owerri, against the Registered Trustees of the Nigerian Bar Association and two others.
According to the committee, Udegbulem sought ex parte injunctions in both proceedings but did not obtain the orders sought.
The Chairman had previously defended the handling of the donation, maintaining that the money was received through the Branch’s official account and spent on conference activities, infrastructure and members’ welfare.
He had also disclosed expenditure of approximately ₦87.43 million, with about ₦18.91 million remaining in the Branch account, and maintained that the projects and financial records were available for inspection.
Udegbulem accepted the investigation constituted by the NBA national leadership but objected to the Branch committee on grounds of alleged bias and competing investigative processes.
Nevertheless, the Nworka-led committee concluded that the transactions it examined raised serious concerns about accountability and compliance with the NBA Constitution and Uniform Bye-Laws.
In its final recommendations, the committee stated:
“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.”
It further described the Treasurer’s conduct as involving extreme recklessness and gross incompetence in the discharge of her responsibilities.
The committee recommended that the General House immediately direct the production of all outstanding financial records and commission an independent professional audit panel to reconcile the Branch’s accounts.
It proposed that the audit should extend to relevant personal accounts belonging to the Chairman, Treasurer, Chairman and Alternate Chairman of the Annual General Conference Logistics Committee, as well as any other accounts through which the donation may have passed, including business accounts operated by persons connected with the transactions.
The investigators recommended that those concerned be required to provide specific explanations for the transactions identified.
The committee also called for appropriate disciplinary proceedings against the Chairman, Treasurer and any other persons subsequently found to have participated in the alleged misconduct.
It concluded that both officers were unworthy of continuing in their respective positions.
The report, dated October 31, 2026, bears the signature of committee Chairman Chidi B. Nworka.
The findings provide further details of the financial allegations behind the controversy that led to Udegbulem’s impeachment, particularly the same-day ₦34 million disbursements, the disputed ₦42 million conference expenditure, the transactions involving Ohuabunwa and the alleged separate ₦30 million government payment.
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