The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, has constituted a three-member investigative committee to probe allegations of financial impropriety surrounding a ₦100 million gift presented by the Imo State Government to the NBA Owerri Branch.
The announcement was made on Thursday morning, October 15, 2026, during a press briefing held at the NBA National Secretariat, Plot 1101 Muhammadu Buhari Way, Central Business District, Abuja.
The inquiry follows petitions and demands submitted by members of the Owerri Branch requesting an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) to examine the receipt, management, and disbursement of the ₦100 million grant.
The funds were donated to the branch by the Imo State Government, but rising friction among local executive officers and branch members over financial accountability prompted national leadership intervention.
The newly appointed panel has been tasked with conducting an independent review to establish the facts behind the handling of the funds.
The reporting deadline has been set for October 30, 2026, at the NBA National Secretariat, Abuja, with field sittings scheduled at the Bar Center, High Court Complex, Orlu Road, Owerri, Imo State.
All officers and stakeholders of the Owerri Branch are directed to preserve and submit all financial records, bank statements, and transactional documents related to the gift.
Speaking on behalf of the national leadership, the NBA National Publicity Secretary, Akorede Lawal, delivered the official statement from the NBA President:
”The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, has constituted a three-member panel to investigate the receipt and administration of the ₦100m funds. Everyone whose conduct is called into question will be given a fair opportunity to respond, and all financial records must be preserved to facilitate a thorough examination.”
Lawal further quoted the NBA President’s pledge to maintain institutional integrity:
”As President of the Nigerian Bar Association, I remain committed to ensuring that concerns raised by members are addressed through a fair, transparent, and orderly process. Accountability must go hand in hand with due process, and our response must sustain members’ confidence in the Association.”
The leadership of the NBA reaffirmed that no individual has been found guilty of wrongdoing at this stage. The three-member committee is expected to submit its findings and recommendations directly to the NBA National Executive Council (NEC) upon completion of its inquiry by late October.
