The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, has set up a three-member committee to investigate allegations of impropriety over the ₦100 million gift the Imo State Government gave to the NBA Owerri Branch.

She announced the move on Thursday, October 15, 2026. It followed letters dated October 13 and 14 about the developing situation in the branch, and a requisition signed by 183 members for an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) to address the matter.

In a letter to the branch chairman, Dr. Mazi Udegbulem, she directed that the meeting should proceed. She said concerns about how the money was received and spent called for a clear account and a fair examination.

The committee is made up of national officers: General Secretary Afam Okeke, Third Vice-President Iniobong Irene Pepple, and Treasurer Esther Jimoh. They will attend the branch meeting as her representatives, observe proceedings, ensure a signed attendance register is taken and give directions to keep order.

The committee is to examine relevant financial records, including receipts, bank statements, expenditure schedules, approvals and payment vouchers, and hear from the parties concerned. It must submit its findings and recommendations to her no later than October 30, 2026. The branch chairman has been told to give the panel access to the venue and full cooperation, and all records relating to the gift are to be preserved.

Badejo-Okusanya stressed that setting up the committee is not a finding of wrongdoing against anyone, and that everyone whose conduct is called into question will get a fair opportunity to respond.

The controversy began in early September, when the Imo State Government reportedly released ₦350 million to the six NBA branches in the state ahead of the 2026 NBA Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt. Owerri was allocated ₦100 million, reportedly received on August 24, while each of the other five branches got ₦50 million. The NBA Mbaise Branch confirmed receiving its ₦50 million.

Former Owerri Branch Secretary Chinedu Agu publicly questioned the size, purpose and timing of the gift, as well as how the Owerri money was being handled and accounted for. His comments drew a 24-hour ultimatum from branch leadership to substantiate them or apologise to the Imo Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice. He declined to retract. Members later raised questions about whether a full account of the ₦100 million had been presented on the branch platform, and the dispute escalated into the EGM requisition and the national intervention.