The Nigerian Bar Association, Owerri Branch, has constituted a five-member investigative committee to examine the expenditure of part of the funds released to the Branch by the Imo State Government, amid an ongoing controversy over the management and utilisation of the N100 million received by the Branch.
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According to a notice issued from the Publicity Desk of NBA Owerri Branch on September 28, 2026, the committee was approved by the Branch Executive Committee pursuant to a resolution reached at the Branch General Meeting held on Saturday, September 26, 2026.
The Branch further stated that the action followed a directive contained in a communication from the Attorney-General of Imo State and Commissioner for Justice, Hon. Paul Obinatu, Esq., dated September 28, 2026.
The committee is chaired by Chief Soronnadi Njoku, SAN, while Okwara Adaugo will serve as Secretary.
Other members are Goodluck Nwelue, K. M. Onyeama and Onwukaike Paschal.
According to the notice signed by the Branch Publicity Secretary, Okoronkwo Chimere Fredrick, the committee has been mandated to investigate the expenditure of part of the funds released to NBA Owerri Branch and applied by the Executive Committee to the execution of projects.
It is also empowered to obtain explanations and clarifications from persons involved in or connected with the expenditure and thereafter make findings and submit a report to the Branch for consideration and further necessary action.
The Branch said the committee was expected to conduct its assignment with fairness, diligence, transparency and fidelity to its mandate, while acting in the best interests of the Branch and its members.
The notice further stated that the Chairman appreciated the cooperation of members as the Branch moved to implement the resolutions of the General Meeting and ensure accountability in the administration of Branch resources.
The development comes amid an escalating dispute over the N100 million received by NBA Owerri Branch from the Imo State Government, which formed part of a reported N350 million financial intervention distributed among the six NBA branches in Imo State ahead of the 2026 NBA Annual General Conference.
Under the reported distribution, NBA Owerri received N100 million, while the five other branches in the state received N50 million each.
Information previously obtained by TheNigeriaLawyer indicated that part of the N100 million was used for improvements at the Owerri Bar Centre, including the installation of solar facilities, air-conditioning units and additional seats.
The dispute that followed centred on whether the money was ultimately used for the purpose for which members understood it had been released and whether the expenditure on the Bar Centre projects received the required approval of the Branch General Meeting.
Nothing in the material presently available establishes that the money was diverted for the personal benefit of the Branch Chairman, Dr. Mazi Udegbulem, or any other individual.
The allegations presently concern how the funds were applied and the process through which the expenditure was authorised, rather than any established finding of personal diversion or misappropriation.
The constitution of the investigative committee also came on the same day a formal motion seeking Udegbulem’s removal was submitted to the Branch Secretary on grounds of alleged financial misappropriation.
Earlier on September 28, another controversy had arisen after the Branch Administrative Secretary, Dorcas Onyemechara, was reported to have said that Udegbulem instructed her not to receive further correspondence from anyone.
The development occurred when a motion seeking the Chairman’s removal was taken to the Bar Centre for submission.
The motion was subsequently taken directly to the office of the Branch Secretary, Ikenna Ujah, where it was eventually submitted.
Before then, requests had also been submitted seeking bank statements for accounts operated by NBA Owerri from July 6, 2026, as well as receipts, invoices, payment vouchers and supporting documentation relating to expenditure at the Bar Centre.
A separate request sought the audio and visual record of the Branch’s hybrid meeting held on September 26.
The latest action by the Branch Executive Committee therefore introduces a formal investigative process into the financial controversy.
Under its terms of reference, the Chief Soronnadi Njoku, SAN-led committee is expected to determine how part of the Imo State Government funds was expended on projects, obtain explanations from relevant persons and make findings for consideration by the Branch.
Its report is expected to guide whatever further action NBA Owerri considers necessary after reviewing the expenditure and circumstances surrounding it.
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