The leadership crisis rocking the Owerri Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has taken another dramatic turn as its embattled Chairman, Prof. Mazi Udegbulem, has instituted a fresh action before the Federal High Court, Owerri, seeking to invalidate the Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) held on 15 October 2026 and permanently restrain the five-member committee constituted at that meeting from investigating allegations concerning the management of a ₦100 million donation from the Imo State Government.
The fresh action comes shortly after the High Court of Imo State, sitting at Aboh Mbaise and presided over by Hon. Justice Mike Onyekachi, declined Udegbulem’s application for an ex parte injunction restraining the same investigative committee. 
In that earlier proceeding on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, the court directed that the respondents be put on notice and adjourned the application to 28 October 2026 for hearing.
Rather than bringing that proceeding to an end, the Aboh Mbaise court merely declined to issue a restraining order without hearing the respondents.
In an originating summons dated 20 October 2026 and marked FHC/OW/CS/120/2026, Udegbulem, through his counsel, Godson Emeka Nwachukwu of G. Killiwe-Nwachukwu & Co., commenced an action against three defendants – The Registered Trustees of the Nigerian Bar Association; Chidi B. Nworka, Chairman of the five-member investigative committee; and Victoria Chioma Joshua Monye, Secretary of the committee.
The suit raises four questions for judicial determination, principally concerning the interpretation of the NBA Constitution, its Uniform Bye-Laws for Branches, the legality of the EGM, and the competence and impartiality of the committee constituted to investigate the disputed funds.
Udegbulem contends that the requisitioning members lacked the authority to independently fix or reschedule the EGM from 10 October to 15 October 2026.
He further argues that the establishment of the five-member investigative committee was unlawful, particularly because the NBA President had already constituted a separate three-member national investigative committee to examine the allegations.
The originating summons also questions the impartiality of the branch committee, alleging circumstances giving rise to a likelihood of bias.
These contentions remain allegations and legal arguments advanced by the plaintiff, and have not been determined by the court.
A particularly significant aspect of the fresh suit is the scope of the reliefs sought.
Beyond challenging the investigative committee, Udegbulem is asking the Federal High Court to declare the proceedings and resolutions of the 15 October EGM illegal, null, void and of no legal effect.
He also seeks a declaration invalidating the constitution of the five-member investigative committee.
Most significantly, in Relief F of the originating summons, Udegbulem requests an order of perpetual injunction restraining Chidi Nworka and Victoria Joshua Monye, whether personally or through their agents, proxies or representatives, from sitting, investigating, issuing reports or acting upon any report generated by the five-member committee.
In Relief G, he further asks the court to set aside the requisition notice, the entire proceedings of the 15 October EGM and all actions taken by the committee.
If granted, the orders would substantially undermine the resolutions of the disputed EGM and prevent the Nworka-led committee from continuing its investigative assignment.
The legal confrontation follows weeks of disagreements among members of NBA Owerri over the receipt, management and expenditure of ₦100 million donated to the branch by the Imo State Government.
Following concerns raised by members, 183 lawyers requisitioned an Extraordinary General Meeting to address the controversy.
On 14 October 2026, NBA President Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, constituted a three-member national committee comprising NBA General Secretary Afam Okeke, Third Vice-President Iniobong Irene Pepple and National Treasurer Esther Jimoh.
The committee was mandated to investigate the financial transactions and submit its findings by 30 October 2026.
The NBA President also directed that the EGM scheduled for 15 October should proceed.
At that meeting, members dissolved an earlier investigative committee constituted under Udegbulem’s leadership and established a fresh five-member committee chaired by Chidi Nworka, with Victoria Joshua Monye as Secretary.
The newly constituted branch committee was directed to investigate the management of the funds and report to members at the general meeting scheduled for 31 October 2026.
It is this second, branch-level investigative committee that Udegbulem now seeks to invalidate.
For now, the fresh Federal High Court action signals a widening legal contest over the authority of NBA Owerri members to investigate their leadership.
Whether the courts will ultimately invalidate the branch’s investigative process or allow it to continue remains to be seen.
One thing is certain. With multiple court proceedings, parallel investigations and crucial meetings approaching, the ₦100 million controversy is far from over.
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