The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has constituted a three-member committee to investigate allegations of impropriety surrounding the receipt, management and disbursement of a ₦100 million gift from the Imo State Government to its Owerri Branch.
The decision follows concerns raised by branch members and a formal request by 183 members for an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) to address the controversy.
NBA President, Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, announced the investigation in a statement published on her X handle on Thursday.
She acknowledged receiving letters dated October 13 and 14 concerning the situation within the branch and the proposed meeting.
Badejo-Okusanya said the allegations required a transparent examination of how the funds were received and disbursed, stressing the importance of accountability and due process.
The committee comprises NBA General Secretary Afam Okeke, Third Vice-President Iniobong Irene Pepple, and Treasurer Esther Jimoh.
According to the NBA president, the panel will examine relevant financial records, receive submissions from concerned parties and investigate the circumstances surrounding the donation.
The committee is expected to submit its findings and recommendations to the NBA president on or before October 30, 2026.
Despite the investigation, Badejo-Okusanya confirmed that the Extraordinary General Meeting scheduled for Thursday, October 15, at 2 p.m. would proceed as planned.
She said the committee members would attend as her representatives to observe proceedings, ensure that a signed attendance register was maintained and provide necessary directions to preserve order.
The NBA president also directed the Owerri Branch chairman to provide access to the meeting venue and cooperate with the committee in carrying out its assignment.
The meeting is expected to give members an opportunity to discuss the disputed donation and seek clarification through the Association’s established procedures.
Badejo-Okusanya emphasised that setting up the panel did not amount to a finding of guilt against any individual.
She assured members that anyone whose conduct might be questioned would be given a fair opportunity to respond to the allegations.
She also directed that all relevant financial documents be preserved and made available to the committee to facilitate a comprehensive investigation.
“Everyone whose conduct is called into question will be given a fair opportunity to respond. All relevant financial records must be preserved and made available to facilitate a thorough examination,” she stated.
The NBA president maintained that accountability must be pursued alongside fairness, noting that the process should protect members’ confidence in the Association.
The controversy over the ₦100 million gift has generated calls within the Owerri Branch for greater transparency regarding the handling of the funds.
The investigation is expected to establish the facts, determine whether any irregularities occurred and recommend appropriate steps based on the findings.
However, the allegations remain unproven, and no individual should be presumed guilty before the investigation is concluded.
Badejo-Okusanya reaffirmed the NBA leadership’s commitment to addressing the concerns through a transparent and orderly process.
“Accountability must go hand in hand with due process, and our response must sustain members’ confidence in the Association,” she said.
Attention will now focus on the committee’s findings ahead of the October 30 deadline, as members await clarification on the management of the government donation.
