The Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Owerri Branch, Mazi Udegbulem, has denied allegations of misappropriation levelled against him by a faction of lawyers in Imo State over the N100m financial support received from the state government.
Udegbolem, who spoke to journalists in Owerri on Monday, said records of the donation, expenditure and balance were available to substantiate his account of how the funds were managed.
“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 him, the branch wrote to Governor Hope Uzodimma on August 10, 2026, through the state Attorney-General, requesting assistance for four projects: completion of a cloakroom at the Justice Oputa High Court Complex in New Owerri, installation of solar panels and air conditioners at the Bar Centre on Orlu Road, procurement of at least two coaster buses, and enrolment of members in the National Health Insurance Scheme.
He said the branch had about 1,800 members and estimated the cost of the solar installation and air conditioners at N30m.
Udegbolem said the governor approved N100m in cash support and indicated that the government would procure the two coaster buses directly, while the cloakroom project was deferred pending a revised cost estimate.
“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.
He added that the account had a balance of N6,351,718 before the donation, bringing the total funds available to N106,351,718.
The chairman said the branch’s Executive Committee approved the projects at meetings held on September 1 and 9, 2026, before the decisions were ratified at a general meeting on September 26.
He said he apologised at the meeting for not obtaining prior approval from the general house before implementing time-sensitive expenditure relating to the association’s Annual General Conference, adding that his apology was accepted and the actions ratified.
Udegbolem maintained that the branch operated a joint-signatory account in line with the NBA Constitution and that he had never operated any branch account as a sole signatory.
Giving a breakdown of the expenditure, he said N42.188m was spent on logistics for the 2026 Annual General Conference, while N17.5m 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, Mrs Gloria Egwuagu.
According to him, N5.418m was spent on eight air conditioners, while N3.4m was used to enrol 86 members in the health insurance scheme.
He said N1.6m remaining from the N5m initially earmarked for the health insurance scheme was refunded to the branch’s welfare account on October 2.
Other expenditures, according to him, included N2.24m for desktop computers and printers, N2.5m for a public address system and amplifier, and N10.3m in support for 206 lawyers at N50,000 each, as directed by the September general meeting.
He added that N1.958m was spent on repairs to the centre, including doors, ceilings and wiring, while N1.93m went into purchasing 41 executive seats.
Udegbolem put the total expenditure at N87,434,250, with a balance of N18,917,468 in the branch’s Fidelity Bank account as of October 15, 2026.
He said the figures accounted for the N100m government donation and the opening balance of N6,351,718, adding that receipts, invoices, bank records and photographic evidence were available for verification.
The chairman said he was aware that petitions had been submitted to external agencies and pledged to cooperate with any lawful investigation.
He disclosed that the NBA President had, in a letter dated October 14, 2026, constituted a three-member committee to investigate the donation, with a deadline of October 30 to conclude its work. He said he had submitted the requested records within the stipulated period.
“No finding or indictment of misappropriation has been made against me by any agency to date,” he said.
Udegbolem also said he attended an extraordinary general meeting after receiving a directive from the NBA President to allow the meeting to proceed, with the presidential committee present as observers.
He alleged that he was asked to step aside at the meeting, where a five-member committee was constituted to investigate the same financial support already being examined by the presidential panel.
He said an executive summary of the meeting’s decisions, dated October 16 and signed by the branch secretary, I. K. Ujah, confirmed the establishment of a separate committee to investigate the receipt and expenditure of the N100m.
The chairman said he had asked the presidential committee to harmonise the two investigative processes to avoid duplication and potential conflict, adding that he had also raised concerns about possible bias.
“I respect the right of members to seek accountability. To avoid multiplicity and conflict, I have formally requested the President’s Three-Member Committee to harmonise both processes, and I have placed my concerns on the likelihood of bias before it.
“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. I am available to appear with all original documents before any lawful body,” he said.
Meanwhile, the branch’s former secretary, Chinedu Agu, had submitted a request under the Freedom of Information Act seeking records relating to the expenditure.
The request included receipts, invoices, payment vouchers and purchase orders for Bar Centre procurements, as well as details of cheques drawn, issued or signed on any branch account between July 6 and September 26, 2026.
Agu also requested the complete audio and visual recording of the hybrid monthly general meeting held on September 26.