Through Peter Okolie
The Chairman, Nigerian Bar Affiliation (NBA), Owerri Department, Prof. Mazi Udegbulem, says he’s going to now not seem prior to a five-member committee arrange through the affiliation to probe his alleged diversion of finances.
Addressing newsmen in Owerri, on Monday, Udegbulem mentioned he would now not post himself to the panel “over considerations of bias and parallel complaints”, relating to an alleged misappropriation of N100 million Imo Executive’s grant to the criminal frame.
He argued that filing to the committee, whilst a three-member panel constituted through the NBA Nationwide President, Mrs Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, used to be lively would quantity to insubordination and illegality.
“Through the structure of the NBA, it’s going to be unlawful and insubordination to the place of job of the nationwide president that she arrange a committee, however the ones after me arrange theirs,” he mentioned.
Udegbulem alleged that key participants of the department panel had already taken public stances towards him on social media platforms, rendering an excellent listening to unimaginable.
“There’s no manner I will be able to get an excellent trial prior to the person who accused me, calling me a fraudster.
“I’ve informed my president that I will be able to now not post myself to the panel,” he mentioned.
He defined that the N100 million enhance licensed through the Imo Executive used to be paid immediately into the reliable account of the department and utilised for licensed tasks.
Udegbulem supplied a line-by-line breakdown of the way the N100 million grant, gained on Aug. 24, used to be spent, along a gap department steadiness of N6.35 million.
Consistent with him, overall expenditures amounted to N87.4 million on sun installations, air conditioners, seats, and welfare, leaving a steadiness of N18.9 million.
He defined that N42.18 million used to be spent on logistics for the frame’s Annual Normal Convention, N17.5 million on a 32KVA solar energy gadget, and N5.41 million on air conditioners.
Different expenditures, he mentioned, incorporated N10.3 million allotted as direct welfare enhance to 206 department participants and N3.4 million for enrolling 86 participants in medical health insurance scheme.
He additionally mentioned that N2.24 million used to be spent to buy computer systems, N2.5 million for public deal with techniques, N1.93 million for govt chairs, and N1.95 million for centre maintenance.
“Overall expenditures stood at N87.43 million, leaving a verified steadiness of N18.91 million within the reliable Constancy Checking account.
“All of the tasks accomplished with the finances are absolutely finished, verified, and open for bodily inspection on the Bar Centre in Owerri,” Udegbulem mentioned.
He additional mentioned that he had absolutely submitted all financial institution data, vouchers, and venture paperwork to the affiliation’s nationwide president’s investigative committee for scrutiny.
The Information Company of Nigeria (NAN) experiences that the disaster started, following a petition through a former department Normal Secretary, Mr Chinedu Agu, accusing Udegbulem of economic misappropriation.
Agu additionally petitioned the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee and NBA nationwide management, alleging that the State Executive’s grant used to be spent with out prior approval through the overall assembly.
He additional alleged that the chief committee performed unapproved disbursements, thereby compromising the pro independence of the affiliation within the state.
Badejo-Okusanya had previous constituted a three-member committee to research the allegations towards Udegbulem.
Then again, the Owerri department insisted on putting in place its impartial committee to paintings along the nationwide committee, mentioning the insecurity within the panel constituted through the nationwide management as its explanation why. (NAN)
Edited through Sam Oditah