- As former Vice Chairman Ekezie Onumajulu Takes Over
The Nigerian Bar Association Owerri Branch, has removed Prof Mazi Udegbulem as Chairman and replaced him with the former Vice Chairman, Dr Ekezie Onumajula.
Udegbulem’s removal followed a Motion moved during Extra Ordinary General meeting held at the Nigeria Bar Association Secretariat Owerri, on Tuesday November 10, 2026 , to deliberate the report of the committee set up by the General meeting on October 15, 2026.
According to information gathered from the meeting, “despite disruptions during the proceedings the meeting relocated to Justice P.C. Onumajulu Square (their usual voting area) where voting by show of hands and counting were conducted by the Publicity Secretary Prof Udegbulem was removed as Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association, Owerri Branch with a majority vote of 215 for and none against his removal.
Thereafter, the report of the investigative committee previously constituted by the General meeting was presented and adopted as a working document”.
Commenting on the development in Owerri based lawyer who does not want his name in print said, “the allegation when the controversy elicited by the allegations surrounding the disbursement of the money reportedly donated by the Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma to enable the NBA branches in the state to participate actively in the NBA Conference held in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Capital, was made public, it was obvious that the days of Prof Udegbulem as Owerri NBA Chairman were numbered”.
“It was gathered that Governor Uzodinma reportedly donated #350 million to NBA branches in Imo State in connection with the conference. While members of some branches were allegedly given a share of the money, members of the Owerri Branch said that they were neither informed about the receipt of the money nor given any portion of it.
According to a lawyer who spoke on the condition of anonymity, members of the Owerri Branch were unaware that #100 million had reportedly been allocated to the branch for the conference, while their counterparts in other branches were allegedly given #500,000 each.
The controversy reportedly came to a head at a recent meeting of the Owerri Branch, where the branch chairman, Dr Mazi Udegbulem, was confronted over the funds.
According to the source, the Chairman acknowledge receiving the money but explained that #26million had been used to install solar lighting at the branch secretariat.
The explanation reportedly triggered a heated dispute among members and subsequently culminated in an attempt to impeach the Chairman.
However, the process has itself become contentious with allegations that the impeachment did not follow due process because the chairman was not given the mandatory two-week notice required under the NBA Constitution.
The impeachment was consequently said to have been declared null and void.
The development has reportedly deepened division within the Owerri Branch, with members demanding greater transparency and accountability over the management and expenditure of funds belonging to the branch.
