*Says “I Did Not In Any Way Alter Any Part Of Our Branch’s
Register”
*Rejects The Report Of The Disciplinary Committee.
![image](/2020/10/lawreport.jpg")
![image](/2021/05/lawp.jpg")
The Immediate Past Chairman of Nnewi branch of the Nigerian Bar
Association, P. C. Ugwuanyi Esq, has denied mutilating and/or
tampering with the branch’s attendance register when he served as
the chairman.
![image](/2021/05/NBASBL2021.jpg")
Ugwuanyi, disclosed this to TheNigerialawyer, Tuesday while
reacting to the allegations contained in the reports submitted by
the Disciplinary Committee of the branch and the Ad-hoc Audit
Committee, against him and A. A. Igwebuike.
Read his full statement below:
NBA NNEWI BRANCH’S REPORTS OF AD-HOC AUDITING COMMITTEE
DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE
My attention has been drawn to a report going round on the
social media purporting that I spent the money belonging to my
branch without proper explanation. The report equally has it that I
was found complicit in the allegation of mutilating the attendance
register of my branch while I was the chairman of my branch.
I understand that the said report was caused to be published on
the social media platforms including
TheNigerialawyer by the Publicity
Secretary of our branch, Franklyn Ofodeme Esq. I am aware that the
brain behind the publication is the present chairman of my branch,
Kingsley Awuka Esq. I shall address the reports but before I do so
I wish to first and foremost let the readers know the background
history of the said reports.
The sins I committed in my branch since 2018 were contesting for
the office of chairman of my branch in June 2018 with Kingsley
Awuka Esq and my insistence that things must be transparently done
in our branch in accordance with the provisions of the Uniform
Bye-Law of NBA which guide activities of various branches of NBA in
the whole federation.
When I took over the mantle of leadership of my branch in June
2018, our branch was in a big mess. We had only N36,000.00 in our
branch’s bank account while we were owing some of our vendors over
N350,000.00 (Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira). I realized
that many senior members of our branch would attend the branch’s
Annual Bar Dinners from year to year with members of their families
but they would not pay their Dinner levies. When I discovered this,
I and members of my Executive Committee resolved to reform the
branch to the best of our ability. We put in place a policy we
termed “The policy of recovery of debts”. We went through the
financial records of our branch and identified those who were
indebted to the branch from 2015 to 2018. We made it very clear
that the debs must be paid. Through that policy, we were able to
recover some money from our members who were indebted to the
branch. This policy was actually successfully implemented but not
without pitching me against many senior members of my branch who
continued to fight back until my tenure finished. The present
chairman equally took the advantage of the little frictions the
implementation of the policy created to remind me that I won him in
the election. He kept on fighting my administration till my tenure
ended basking on the supports of some senior members of the branch
who were not comfortable with my insistence that the provisions of
the Bye-Law should guide the activities of our branch in our
dealings. For instance, at the time he handed over to the
General Secretary that took over from him, he refused to hand over
the practice stamps of one of our members, Ifechukwu Jacobs Esq
because he did not support him during the branch’s election. He
ignored all the directives given to him by the Executive Committee
of the branch to hand over the stamp to the General Secretary that
took over from him. In spite of my position as the chairman of the
branch, I had to go to his office to plead with him before he could
give me the stamps.
Even as the chairman of the branch, he removed me from being one
of the administrators of our branch’s official platform because in
line with the resolution of the general meeting of our branch, I
removed the then non-member of the branch (Uchenna Nwammiri Esq) he
added on the platform when he ignored my advice that he should
remove him from the platform pending when he registers with the
branch. He was able to do this because I was magnanimous enough to
allow him continue to be one of the administrators of the platform
when he handed over to the General Secretary of the branch that
took over from him. When I led the Committee of Chairmen of NBA
branches in Anambra state to struggle for the reduction of filing
fees in our various courts, he was the only lawyer in Anambra state
that stood in opposition to our struggle through his press
releases. I can go on and on but space will not allow me. All these
facts are verifiable.
Through the said policy of recovery of debt, we were able to
re-orientate members of our branch such that even after my tenure
came to an end, our members were still paying their outstanding
debts to the present administration. Presently, as a result of the
policy our members pay their dues and levies voluntarily. With the
policy we were able to pay all our creditors including two members
of our branch. We were also able to get some projects done. For
instance we got a parcel of land for our branch. We also secured
the land with a spiral wall fence. We did some other projects
including replacement of the engine of our branch’s bus which
knocked while bringing our members from the Annual General
Conference which was held in Lagos in 2019. When I was leaving the
office in June 2020, our branch had over N250,000.00 (Two Hundred
and Fifty Thousand Naira) in its bank account and we were not owing
anybody.
What is happening in our branch can never happen in any branch
that has any regard for the provisions of the Bye-Law of the
association. I tried my possible best to reform the association to
be in line with other branches but some members of my branch who
enjoy the unorganized nature of the branch preferred to allow it
remain as it is.
My issue with the present chairman, climaxed during the 2020
branch elections. I insisted that the provisions of the Bye-Law
should be followed in the course of conducting the election. I
maintained that all the contestants vying for any positions in the
branch must be given a level playing ground and if any waiver
should be granted to any of the contestants that the general
meeting must agree and see it transparently done.
Incidentally in the said 2020, the present chairman was not
qualified to contest for any position in our branch not to talk of
the office of chairman of the branch. It is on record and
verifiable that prior to June 2020 election, the present chairman
had held at least three positions in our branch.
Amongst the elective position the chairman had held in my branch
prior to the election held in June 2020 are the following:
- Welfare Secretary
2008
– 2010 - Publicity Secretary 2010
– 2012 - General Secretary 2018
– 2020
By the provision of Section 6(3) of the Bye-Law, the chairman
was not qualified to contest for any elective position in our
branch in June 2020. By the said provision, the chairman must wait
for at least 5(five) years before he could be qualified to contest
for any elective position in our branch. It is important to note
that in 2018 when I contested for the office of chairman with the
chairman, both of us were caught up by the provision of section
6(3) of the Bye-Law and the Election Committee headed by a very
senior member of the branch, Ike Obeta Esq referred the issue to
the general meeting for deliberation. When it was realized that no
other person was interested in the position, the general meeting
unanimously resolved that rather than leaving the association
without a chairman that waiver should be granted to both of us and
that was why I contested for the office of chairman with him.
Unfortunately, in 2020, the branch’s Election Committee headed
by Chikodili Nwogugu Esq a very senior member of the branch, rather
than being transparent in their dealings became selective in
clearing both contestants and voters. The committee disqualified
contestants who were not the preferred candidates of members of the
committee and cleared contestants they wanted irrespective of
whether the persons were qualified or not. For instance, one of our
members, N.M. Ugboma Esq who indicated interest to contest for the
office of chairman alongside the Chairman and A.A Igwebuike Esq was
disqualified without any defined reason even when no petition was
written against him while the chairman who clearly was not
qualified was cleared by the committee even when the committee was
in receipt of more than one petition drawing the attention of the
members to the effect that the chairman was not by the provision of
Sec. 6(3) of the Bye-Law qualified to contest in the election. The
present treasurer of the branch who paid her 2019 branch dues on
24/04/19 contrary to Sec 15(4) of the Bye-Law was cleared by the
committee while other contestants who had similar issues where
disqualified by the committee.
When the committee released the voters list, it was discovered
that from the branch’s statement of account, over 25 well known
supporters of the chairman who did not pay their branch dues and
practicing fees on or before 31st March 2019 and 2020
made the list of voters contrary to sec 16(1) of the Uniform
Bye-Law. It was discovered that out of the 83 names on the voters
list, over 25 members who were well known supporters of the
chairman who did not pay their branch dues and/or practicing fees
on or before 31st March of 2019 and 2020 made the voters
list. Complaints were made to the Election Committee by the
chairman’s co-contestant, A.A. Igwebuike Esq but the members of the
committee ignored him. I also drew the attention of the committee
to the fraud but painfully I realized that the committee and some
senior members of the branch had conspired and made up their mind
to rig the election in favour of the chairman.
When it was obvious that the committee did not want to allow the
election to be free and fair, the chairman’s co-contestant (who did
not want himself to be seen as having been humiliated) withdrew his
participation in the election. The election was eventually held and
the chairman’s said supporters who were not qualified to vote voted
and were used to rig the chairman into the office. The chairman was
said to have gotten 77 votes while his co-contestant was said to
have gotten 4 votes even when he had withdrawn his participation in
the election.
For the avoidance of doubt, the following understated members of
the branch were amongst the supporters of the chairman who were not
qualified to vote but fraudulently appeared on the voters list and
voted for the chairman in the said election held on 26th
June, 2020.
| S/N | Name | No. on the voters list |
Date of payment of branch dues |
Date of payment of practicing fees |
| 1 | Nwachukwu Chioma .A. | 47 | 01/04/2020 | |
| 2 | Onuigbo Christiana .N. | 61 | 06/04/2020 | |
| 3 | Udeze Azubuike Maduka | 63 | 13/05/2020 | |
| 4 | Eze Monday Onwe | 11 | 13/05/2020 | |
| 5 | Origbakor Chistopher Elom | 18 | 13/05/2020 | |
| 6 | Peter Moses Okon | 67 | 02/06/2020 | |
| 7 | Ewim Nnedimma .N. | 6 | 02/06/2020 | |
| 8 | Maureen Nneka Emecheta | 70 | 04/06/2020 | |
| 9 | Madukosiri Chijioke | 60 | 26/05/2020 | |
| 10 | Ofodeme Franklyn .C. | 26 | 30/04/2019 | |
| 11 | Somtochukwu Attamah | 26 | 26/05/2020 | |
| 12 | I.J. Ndianefo | 58 | 05/06/2020 | |
| 13 | S.J. Igweze | 69 | 13/12/2019 | |
| 14 | Okonkwo Chukwuka Emmanuel | 65 | 20/05/2020 | |
| 15 | His Worship Loveth Nnaka | 21 | 23/11/2019 | |
| 16 | James Akoh | 59 | 04/06/2020 | |
| 17 | Silver C. Udeogaranya Orizu | 27 | 19/05/2020 | |
| 18 | Orizu E.T. | 62 | 19/05/2020 | |
| 19 | Otti O.M. | 68 | 05/06/2020 | |
| 20 | Onwugamba .U. | 31 | April 2020 |
To underscore my point, the Publicity Secretary of the branch
who caused the report to be published against me was No. 10 on the
voters list but he paid his 2019 branch dues on 30th
April, 2019. He should tell us how he made the voters list and
voted that day. It is worthy of note that the then General
Secretary of NBA, Jonathan Taidi Esq was being dully communicated
in writing of all that was happening in our branch during the
election but for the reason best known to him, he allowed the
election to go on in spite of the monumental fraud discovered. Even
the appeal sent to the NBA appeal panel (South East Zone) was till
date sat on. The said Appeal Panel till date never notified anybody
of its decision in spite of series of demands made to the Secretary
of the panel and the then General Secretary, Jonathan Taidi Esq. It
is worthy of note that the Appeal Panel was headed by a Senior
Advocate of Nigeria.
It is important to note here that the said branch’s 2020
Election Committee later presented a post-election report to the
General Meeting of NBA Nnewi branch and in paragraph 1.08 of the
report, the election committee admitted that the voters list used
in the said election was fraudulently prepared and published. The
said paragraph 1.08 of the said post election report is here by
annexed.
post-election Report of NBA Nnewi 2020 Election Committee presented
to the General Meeting of NBA Nnewi. The Committee by this Report
admitted that the voters’ list used in the election was
fraudulently prepared and published by the Secretary of the
Committee yet the chairman issued each of the members with a
Certificate of Excellent Service
I am sorry to state that anything goes in NBA Nnewi branch and
if one insists that the provision of the Bye- Law should be adhered
to, he becomes the enemy of many members of the branch amongst whom
are senior members of the branch who wouldn’t like the branch to be
guided by the provisions of the Bye-Law but rather by their whims
and caprices. Upon the swearing in of the present chairman, he
unilaterally appointed a member of the branch, Ifeanyi David Esq to
the position of National Executive Committee Representative (NEC
REP) of the branch without recourse to the general meeting even
when he (Chairman) was very much aware that he (Ifeanyi David Esq)
had never held any elective position in the branch. This was
contrary to Section 9 of the Bye-Law which made it clear that those
who are qualified for the position of NEC REP are the two preceding
chairmen and vice chairmen. When I drew the chairman’s attention to
the provision of Section 9 of the Bye-Law he ignored my complaint
and I petitioned the President of NBA who later referred the issue
to NEC for consideration. NEC later nullified the appointment and
directed that the election should be held to elect the branch’s NEC
REP.
In spite of the said admissions made by the 2020 Election
Committee to the effect that the provisions of the Bye-Law was
compromised in the course of conducting the 2020 branch elections,
on 18th day of December, 2020 at the annual dinner of
the branch, the chairman issued Certificates of Excellent Service
to each of the members of the 2020 election committee. I brought it
to the notice of the Chairman that the certificates would encourage
our members to rig elections in future and advised him to withdraw
the certificates but he ignored my advice.
I didn’t have any option than to institute action in court
against the chairman and the 5 members of the election committee
via suit No. HN/10/2021 praying that the certificates be declared
null and void since they are contrary to the objectives of NBA.
Subsequent to the NEC’s directive that fresh election should be
conducted to elect the NEC REP of our branch, the chairman
constituted an election committee to conduct the election. The
Committee in conspiracy with the chairman started scheming to re
appoint the member (Ifeanyi David Esq) who was previously
unlawfully appointed by him. In spite of the admission of the 2020
election committee that the voters list was illegally prepared, the
committee for the NEC REP released a notice adopting the said
voters list used in 2020 election as the voters list for the NEC
REP election. A copy of the said notice is hereby annexed. The
committee in conspiracy with the chairman also through the said
notice disqualified me from contesting for the said position of NEC
REP solely to pave way for the chairman to re appoint Ifeanyi David
Esq to the position of NEC REP which he is not qualified to contest
for. Eventually no election was held. Subsequently, I instituted
action in court via suit No. HN/129/2021 challenging my
disqualification. Even when the parties in the suit (including the
chairman) had been dully served with the court processes, the
chairman is said to have thereafter sent the name of Ifeanyi David
Esq to the President of NBA for recognition as the NEC REP of Nnewi
Branch. That is the extent of lawlessness we experience in Nnewi
branch.
the 2020 Election Committee to the effect that the voters’ list
used in the 2020 branch election was fraudulently prepared and
published, the election committee constituted to conduct an
election for the branch’s NEC REP (as directed by NEC) by the above
notice adopted the said voters’ list for an election that was
scheduled to hold on the 26th March 2021.
In Nnewi Bar, Bye-Law is relegated to the dustbin and you dare
not insist that the Bye-Law should be followed except you want to
attract both verbal and physical attacks from members including
senior members of the Branch. During branch elections even non
members of the branch (including very senior Lawyers) determine the
elections by putting pressures on the members of the election
committee to compromise the provisions of the Bye-Law in favour of
their preferred contestants except where the committee is made up
of members with strong character.
THE AD-HOC AUDITING COMMITTEE
First and foremost I am yet to receive any report from the
ad-hoc auditing committee constituted by the chairman in spite of
my applications to that effect. As a result of my insistence
that the provisions of the Bye – Law should be observed in our
branch during the election and after the election, the chairman has
been using the instrumentalities of his office to victimize me.
Sometime in October 2020, I presented account to the general
meeting of the branch and in line with the practice of our branch;
I attended our monthly meetings to take questions from our members.
The Chairman refused to allow me opportunity to take questions from
members and claimed that an ad-hoc auditing committee should be
constituted to enable me make some clarifications on the account.
It is important to note that prior to constituting the Ad-hoc
auditing committee, the chairman instigated his well known
followers who wrote me a letter demanding that I make some
clarifications on the account I presented. On constituting the
Ad-hoc auditing committee, the chairman referred the letter to the
committee for consideration. Initially, when I was invited by the
committee, I entertained some fear in the unbiasedness and
neutrality of the committee in view of the fact that the secretary
of the committee was one of the chairman’s supporters who was not
qualified to vote in the election but was used to rig the chairman
into the office while the chairman of the committee was among the
few lawyers that signed the requisition notice calling for a
physical meeting to set aside the election committee my
administration constituted through an online meeting as a result of
COVID 19 pandemic. This prompted to write the committee a letter to
express my feelings. But to show utmost good faith, I later
conceded to appear before the committee on 19th April,
2021. After appearing before the committee for the said day,
further hearing was adjourned to 21st April, 2021.
Because of the way I was bullied on the said
19th April, 2021, I realized that nothing would make me
to get justice from the committee. I subsequently applied in
writing to the committee to be allowed to engage any lawyer of my
choice to appear with me and defend me in the committee, the
committee refused. I further applied in writing to be allowed to
invite my well wishers to appear with me in the committee, the
committee refused. I applied for stay of
proceedings to enable me challenge the decision of the committee
dismissing my applications in the court of law yet the committee
refused and compelled me to take questions from them. After the
committee finished with me I applied in writing to be allowed to
call witnesses (including members of my executive committee) who
would testify on my behalf and the committee
refused.
I wish to state that when I appeared before the committee I
explained everything I did with the branch’s money and tendered
receipts I could lay hand on. It was very obvious that the
committee was not constituted to discover the truth but rather
constituted with an instruction to indict me. I was denied all
known principles of fair hearing by the committee. The committee
later submitted its report and recommendations to the chairman. But
later the chairman in corroboration with some senior members of the
branch put pressure on the members of the committee to make further
report recommending that I should refund some money to the branch.
It is worthy of note that the chairman of the branch worked as the
secretary of the branch under the administration that handed over
to me.
The said administration inherited over N680,000.00 (Six Hundred
and Eighty Thousand Naira) spent all the money and left a debt of
over N350,000.00 for my administration which I paid and left over
N250,000.00 in the branch’s account after doing some project.
I have written the chairman a letter rejecting the decision
of the committee for being in breach of my right for fair hearing.
It is also important to categorically state that I did not
unilaterally spend the branch’s money and all money spent by my
administration was dully approved and was spent in the interest of
the branch. It is also important to state that when the committee
requested to be presented with the CTC of the minutes of the
branch’s monthly meeting to see approvals by the General meeting, I
applied to the chairman to cause to be released to me the CTC of
the minutes of the monthly meetings of the branch as contend in the
register handed over to his administration but the chairman refused
to cause the CTC of the minutes released to me. This fact was duly
brought to the notice of the committee. May I further make it clear
that from the follow up report of the committee, the money it
(committee) recommended that I should refund to the branch is the
money used to replace the engine, brain box and generally fix the
branch’s bus that got grounded since August 2019. It is then
laughable that the committee did not recommend that those items
caused to be fixed in the bus with the branch’s money should be
returned to me while the money is refunded to the branch. The said
branch bus was handed over to the present administration by me and
it was driven off from the compound of my office by the vice
chairman of the branch on the instruction of the chairman. While
the branch took its bus with the items my administration caused to
be fixed on the bus with the branch’s money the branch cannot
rightly turn around to demand that I refund the money with which
the items were caused to be fixed.
The committee at no place in their report claimed that I did not
cause all those items to be fixed on the bus because they are all
identifiable in the bus. It is important to note that the committee
didn’t care to call for the bus to see for themselves the work done
on the bus because they were not interested in finding the truth.
It is unacceptable that while the branch enjoys the benefits of
what my administration used its money to procure, it turns around
to demand for its money. The money the committee by its follow up
report demanded that I should refund to the branch is money which
provided the branch identifiable benefits which the members of the
branch have enjoyed or enjoying. The committee’s follow up report
is nothing than the extension of Kingsley Awuka’s effort to get me
silenced at all cost but it cannot be possible.
DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE REPORT
With respect to the Disciplinary Committee’s report, I wish to
state that till date I am yet to receive any copy of the alleged
report of the Disciplinary Committee. I wish to state that I did
not appear before the Disciplinary Committee of our branch in
respect of the alleged mutilation of branch’s attendance register.
Through the letter dated 22/3/2021. I notified the committee and
the chairman of the branch why I would not appear before the
committee. When I looked at the composition of the Disciplinary
committee I realized that the members of the committee must be
biased if I appeared before the committee. I realized that the
chairman of the branch intentionally selected only members of my
branch who I have had cause to differ with in most hostile
circumstances. Our branch is made up of over 200 (Two hundred)
members but the chairman of the branch intentionally chose the nine
(9) members of our branch each of whom to his knowledge I have had
issues with by one way or the other in the course of insisting that
the provisions of the Bye –law should be observed in what we are
doing in our branch. The members of the Disciplinary Committee are
9 and I shall here under state why each of them cannot see that
justice is meted on me if I appeared before the committee:
- The chairman of the committee is Sam Onyia Esq. Sam Onyia Esq
is the 2nd defendant in suit No. HN/72/2021 in which I
sued him and two others including the chairman who is the
1st defendant for unlawfully disqualifying me from
participating in election for NEC REP of my branch. - The Alternate chairman of the committee is Ifeanyi David Esq.
Ifeanyi David Esq is the member of my branch who was unlawful
appointed as NEC REP of our branch by the chairman which
appointment was nullified by the National Executive Committee (NEC)
of NBA pursuant to my petition to the President of NBA. - T.O Igwegbe Esq was a member of the committee. T.O. Igwegbe Esq
was a member of 2020 Election Committee and the 3rd
defendant in suit NO. HN/10/2021 which I instituted to challenge
the Certificate of Excellent Service the chairman issued to her and
other members of the 2020 election committee that compromised the
provisions of the Bye law and rigged the chairman into office. The
chairman is 1st defendant in the suit. - K.O. Odimegwu Esq. was a member of the committee. He is the
4th defendant in suit No. HN/129/2020 in which I
instituted against him and 8 other members who made efforts to
unlawfully impeach me from the office for insisting that the first
election committee my administration constituted (through the
online meeting as a result of COVID 19 pandemic) should conduct the
2020 election. The chairman is the 3rd defendant in the
suit. - Nnamdi Chima Esq is also a member of the committee and the
1st defendant in suit No. HN/129/2020 in which I
instituted against him and 8 other members who made efforts to
unlawfully impeach me from the office for insisting that the first
election committee my administration constituted (through the
online meeting as a result of COVID 19 pandemic) should conduct the
2020 election. The chairman is the 3rd defendant in the
suit. - M.N Emecheta Esq. is the 6th member of the committee
M.N Emecheta Esq is one of the well known supporters of the
chairman who was not qualified to vote during the 2020 election but
who was used to rig the chairman into the office. She was No. 70 on
the voters list yet she paid her 2020 branch dues on 04/06/2020. I
have on different occasions publicly criticized her for allowing
herself to be used to rig the chairman into the office. - Chioma Nwachukwu Esq is the 7th member of the
committee. Chioma Nwachukwu Esq was also one of the well known
supporters of the chairman who was not qualified to vote during the
2020 branch’s election but was cleared to vote solely to rig the
chairman into the office. She was NO. 47 on the voters list yet she
paid her branch dues on 01/04/2020. I have also publicly criticized
her for allowing herself to be used to rig the chairman into the
office. - Obinna Nnaka Esq is the 8th member of the committee.
Obinna Nnaka Esq is the 6th defendant in suit No.
HN/129/2020 in which I instituted against him and 8 other members
who made efforts to unlawfully impeach me from the office for
insisting that the first election committee my administration
constituted (through the online meeting as a result of COVID 19
pandemic) should conduct the 2020 election. The chairman is the
3rd defendant in the suit. - A.C Edu Esq is the 9th member of the committee
defendant. A.C Edu Esq was one of the members of my branch who in
2020 signed a requisition notice forcing me to call for physical
meeting of the branch to constitute a fresh election committee
which I conceded to without knowing that the motive was to
constitute an election committee that would compromise the
provisions of the Bye-law and rig the chairman into the office. I
have publicly criticized his action in that regard.
When I discovered that the chairman intentionally selected those
who would be biased in their judgment to be members of the
Disciplinary Committee I wrote him the letter indicating that I
would not appear before the committee with such composition. The
committee was dully informed that I would not appear before it and
the reason why I would not appear before it.
For the avoidance of any doubt, I did not in any way alter any
part of our branch’s register. I handed over the branch’s
attendance register to the chairman of the election committee the
same way I believed I had received it from the then General
Secretary of the branch Egbuna Odimegwu Esq. It is important to
note that in 2020 (prior to the 2020 election) one of the
chairman’s followers, one Kingsley Aroh Esq posted a copy of an
attendance register on our branch’s platform and when I saw it, I
asked the then secretary how Kingsley Aroh Esq became in possession
of our attendance register and he told me that the attendance
register was stolen while we were having our monthly meeting but
that he later found it. Surprisingly, the then General Secretary
later informed me that the Chairman (Kingsley Awuka Esq) came to
his office and requested for a copy of register and he (General
Secretary) released it to his (General Secretary), secretary in the
office to do a photocopy for the Chairman (Kingsley Awuka Esq).
When he told that, I asked him whether there was any application to
that effect and he said no. I scolded him for doing that. I am
surprised that it is said that the same then General Secretary
turned around and claimed that he did a photocopy of the attendance
register and handed over the original to me at the premises of DPP
Nnewi. It is important to note that in the same 2020, prior to the
election A.A Igwebuike Esq, the chairman’s co-contestant accused
the chairman of deleting his name in the copies of the register he
was then having. I am most surprised that it was alleged that the
same A.A Igwebuike Esq claimed that I gave him the branch’s
attendance register to mutilate. May I clearly state that the then
General Secretary gave me the attendance register at the premises
of the office of DPP Nnewi at about 6.30pm immediately after the
emergency general meeting at which the 2nd 2020 Election
Committee that compromised the Bye-Law in the course of conducting
the election was constituted. The General Secretary had no time to
do any photocopies at that time because he handed over to me
immediately the meeting came to a close as I was sitting with him
on one table coupled with the fact that it was during the lock down
caused by COVID 19 pandemic and no business outfit was open within
the vicinity at that time. I am surprised as to when and where he
did the photocopy he was said to have claimed to have done. It is
important to note that I would have handed over the attendance
register to the Chairman of the Election Committee at the same time
and venue I collected it from the then General Secretary but he
(Chairman Election Committee) requested that I give him the
register with the constitution of NBA and the cheque for the money
approved for conducting of the election. I currently have a copy of
the register I handed over to the chairman of the election
committee. I hereby categorically reject the report of the
Disciplinary Committee.
Dated this 1st day of June 2021.
P. C. Ugwuanyi Esq
Immediate Past Chairman,
NBA Nnewi
*Says “I Did Not In Any Way Alter Any Part Of Our Branch’s
Register”
*Rejects The Report Of The Disciplinary Committee.
The Immediate Past Chairman of Nnewi branch of the Nigerian Bar
Association, P. C. Ugwuanyi Esq, has denied mutilating and/or
tampering with the branch’s attendance register when he served as
the chairman.
Ugwuanyi, disclosed this to TheNigerialawyer, Tuesday while
reacting to the allegations contained in the reports submitted by
the Disciplinary Committee of the branch and the Ad-hoc Audit
Committee, against him and A. A. Igwebuike.
Read his full statement below:
NBA NNEWI BRANCH’S REPORTS OF AD-HOC AUDITING COMMITTEE
DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE
My attention has been drawn to a report going round on the
social media purporting that I spent the money belonging to my
branch without proper explanation. The report equally has it that I
was found complicit in the allegation of mutilating the attendance
register of my branch while I was the chairman of my branch.
I understand that the said report was caused to be published on
the social media platforms including
TheNigerialawyer by the Publicity
Secretary of our branch, Franklyn Ofodeme Esq. I am aware that the
brain behind the publication is the present chairman of my branch,
Kingsley Awuka Esq. I shall address the reports but before I do so
I wish to first and foremost let the readers know the background
history of the said reports.
The sins I committed in my branch since 2018 were contesting for
the office of chairman of my branch in June 2018 with Kingsley
Awuka Esq and my insistence that things must be transparently done
in our branch in accordance with the provisions of the Uniform
Bye-Law of NBA which guide activities of various branches of NBA in
the whole federation.
When I took over the mantle of leadership of my branch in June
2018, our branch was in a big mess. We had only N36,000.00 in our
branch’s bank account while we were owing some of our vendors over
N350,000.00 (Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira). I realized
that many senior members of our branch would attend the branch’s
Annual Bar Dinners from year to year with members of their families
but they would not pay their Dinner levies. When I discovered this,
I and members of my Executive Committee resolved to reform the
branch to the best of our ability. We put in place a policy we
termed “The policy of recovery of debts”. We went through the
financial records of our branch and identified those who were
indebted to the branch from 2015 to 2018. We made it very clear
that the debs must be paid. Through that policy, we were able to
recover some money from our members who were indebted to the
branch. This policy was actually successfully implemented but not
without pitching me against many senior members of my branch who
continued to fight back until my tenure finished. The present
chairman equally took the advantage of the little frictions the
implementation of the policy created to remind me that I won him in
the election. He kept on fighting my administration till my tenure
ended basking on the supports of some senior members of the branch
who were not comfortable with my insistence that the provisions of
the Bye-Law should guide the activities of our branch in our
dealings. For instance, at the time he handed over to the
General Secretary that took over from him, he refused to hand over
the practice stamps of one of our members, Ifechukwu Jacobs Esq
because he did not support him during the branch’s election. He
ignored all the directives given to him by the Executive Committee
of the branch to hand over the stamp to the General Secretary that
took over from him. In spite of my position as the chairman of the
branch, I had to go to his office to plead with him before he could
give me the stamps.
Even as the chairman of the branch, he removed me from being one
of the administrators of our branch’s official platform because in
line with the resolution of the general meeting of our branch, I
removed the then non-member of the branch (Uchenna Nwammiri Esq) he
added on the platform when he ignored my advice that he should
remove him from the platform pending when he registers with the
branch. He was able to do this because I was magnanimous enough to
allow him continue to be one of the administrators of the platform
when he handed over to the General Secretary of the branch that
took over from him. When I led the Committee of Chairmen of NBA
branches in Anambra state to struggle for the reduction of filing
fees in our various courts, he was the only lawyer in Anambra state
that stood in opposition to our struggle through his press
releases. I can go on and on but space will not allow me. All these
facts are verifiable.
Through the said policy of recovery of debt, we were able to
re-orientate members of our branch such that even after my tenure
came to an end, our members were still paying their outstanding
debts to the present administration. Presently, as a result of the
policy our members pay their dues and levies voluntarily. With the
policy we were able to pay all our creditors including two members
of our branch. We were also able to get some projects done. For
instance we got a parcel of land for our branch. We also secured
the land with a spiral wall fence. We did some other projects
including replacement of the engine of our branch’s bus which
knocked while bringing our members from the Annual General
Conference which was held in Lagos in 2019. When I was leaving the
office in June 2020, our branch had over N250,000.00 (Two Hundred
and Fifty Thousand Naira) in its bank account and we were not owing
anybody.
What is happening in our branch can never happen in any branch
that has any regard for the provisions of the Bye-Law of the
association. I tried my possible best to reform the association to
be in line with other branches but some members of my branch who
enjoy the unorganized nature of the branch preferred to allow it
remain as it is.
My issue with the present chairman, climaxed during the 2020
branch elections. I insisted that the provisions of the Bye-Law
should be followed in the course of conducting the election. I
maintained that all the contestants vying for any positions in the
branch must be given a level playing ground and if any waiver
should be granted to any of the contestants that the general
meeting must agree and see it transparently done.
Incidentally in the said 2020, the present chairman was not
qualified to contest for any position in our branch not to talk of
the office of chairman of the branch. It is on record and
verifiable that prior to June 2020 election, the present chairman
had held at least three positions in our branch.
Amongst the elective position the chairman had held in my branch
prior to the election held in June 2020 are the following:
- Welfare Secretary
2008
– 2010 - Publicity Secretary 2010
– 2012 - General Secretary 2018
– 2020
By the provision of Section 6(3) of the Bye-Law, the chairman
was not qualified to contest for any elective position in our
branch in June 2020. By the said provision, the chairman must wait
for at least 5(five) years before he could be qualified to contest
for any elective position in our branch. It is important to note
that in 2018 when I contested for the office of chairman with the
chairman, both of us were caught up by the provision of section
6(3) of the Bye-Law and the Election Committee headed by a very
senior member of the branch, Ike Obeta Esq referred the issue to
the general meeting for deliberation. When it was realized that no
other person was interested in the position, the general meeting
unanimously resolved that rather than leaving the association
without a chairman that waiver should be granted to both of us and
that was why I contested for the office of chairman with him.
Unfortunately, in 2020, the branch’s Election Committee headed
by Chikodili Nwogugu Esq a very senior member of the branch, rather
than being transparent in their dealings became selective in
clearing both contestants and voters. The committee disqualified
contestants who were not the preferred candidates of members of the
committee and cleared contestants they wanted irrespective of
whether the persons were qualified or not. For instance, one of our
members, N.M. Ugboma Esq who indicated interest to contest for the
office of chairman alongside the Chairman and A.A Igwebuike Esq was
disqualified without any defined reason even when no petition was
written against him while the chairman who clearly was not
qualified was cleared by the committee even when the committee was
in receipt of more than one petition drawing the attention of the
members to the effect that the chairman was not by the provision of
Sec. 6(3) of the Bye-Law qualified to contest in the election. The
present treasurer of the branch who paid her 2019 branch dues on
24/04/19 contrary to Sec 15(4) of the Bye-Law was cleared by the
committee while other contestants who had similar issues where
disqualified by the committee.
When the committee released the voters list, it was discovered
that from the branch’s statement of account, over 25 well known
supporters of the chairman who did not pay their branch dues and
practicing fees on or before 31st March 2019 and 2020
made the list of voters contrary to sec 16(1) of the Uniform
Bye-Law. It was discovered that out of the 83 names on the voters
list, over 25 members who were well known supporters of the
chairman who did not pay their branch dues and/or practicing fees
on or before 31st March of 2019 and 2020 made the voters
list. Complaints were made to the Election Committee by the
chairman’s co-contestant, A.A. Igwebuike Esq but the members of the
committee ignored him. I also drew the attention of the committee
to the fraud but painfully I realized that the committee and some
senior members of the branch had conspired and made up their mind
to rig the election in favour of the chairman.
When it was obvious that the committee did not want to allow the
election to be free and fair, the chairman’s co-contestant (who did
not want himself to be seen as having been humiliated) withdrew his
participation in the election. The election was eventually held and
the chairman’s said supporters who were not qualified to vote voted
and were used to rig the chairman into the office. The chairman was
said to have gotten 77 votes while his co-contestant was said to
have gotten 4 votes even when he had withdrawn his participation in
the election.
For the avoidance of doubt, the following understated members of
the branch were amongst the supporters of the chairman who were not
qualified to vote but fraudulently appeared on the voters list and
voted for the chairman in the said election held on 26th
June, 2020.
| S/N | Name | No. on the voters list |
Date of payment of branch dues |
Date of payment of practicing fees |
| 1 | Nwachukwu Chioma .A. | 47 | 01/04/2020 | |
| 2 | Onuigbo Christiana .N. | 61 | 06/04/2020 | |
| 3 | Udeze Azubuike Maduka | 63 | 13/05/2020 | |
| 4 | Eze Monday Onwe | 11 | 13/05/2020 | |
| 5 | Origbakor Chistopher Elom | 18 | 13/05/2020 | |
| 6 | Peter Moses Okon | 67 | 02/06/2020 | |
| 7 | Ewim Nnedimma .N. | 6 | 02/06/2020 | |
| 8 | Maureen Nneka Emecheta | 70 | 04/06/2020 | |
| 9 | Madukosiri Chijioke | 60 | 26/05/2020 | |
| 10 | Ofodeme Franklyn .C. | 26 | 30/04/2019 | |
| 11 | Somtochukwu Attamah | 26 | 26/05/2020 | |
| 12 | I.J. Ndianefo | 58 | 05/06/2020 | |
| 13 | S.J. Igweze | 69 | 13/12/2019 | |
| 14 | Okonkwo Chukwuka Emmanuel | 65 | 20/05/2020 | |
| 15 | His Worship Loveth Nnaka | 21 | 23/11/2019 | |
| 16 | James Akoh | 59 | 04/06/2020 | |
| 17 | Silver C. Udeogaranya Orizu | 27 | 19/05/2020 | |
| 18 | Orizu E.T. | 62 | 19/05/2020 | |
| 19 | Otti O.M. | 68 | 05/06/2020 | |
| 20 | Onwugamba .U. | 31 | April 2020 |
To underscore my point, the Publicity Secretary of the branch
who caused the report to be published against me was No. 10 on the
voters list but he paid his 2019 branch dues on 30th
April, 2019. He should tell us how he made the voters list and
voted that day. It is worthy of note that the then General
Secretary of NBA, Jonathan Taidi Esq was being dully communicated
in writing of all that was happening in our branch during the
election but for the reason best known to him, he allowed the
election to go on in spite of the monumental fraud discovered. Even
the appeal sent to the NBA appeal panel (South East Zone) was till
date sat on. The said Appeal Panel till date never notified anybody
of its decision in spite of series of demands made to the Secretary
of the panel and the then General Secretary, Jonathan Taidi Esq. It
is worthy of note that the Appeal Panel was headed by a Senior
Advocate of Nigeria.
It is important to note here that the said branch’s 2020
Election Committee later presented a post-election report to the
General Meeting of NBA Nnewi branch and in paragraph 1.08 of the
report, the election committee admitted that the voters list used
in the said election was fraudulently prepared and published. The
said paragraph 1.08 of the said post election report is here by
annexed.
Election Committee presented to the General Meeting of NBA Nnewi.
The Committee by this Report admitted that the voters’ list used in
the election was fraudulently prepared and published by the
Secretary of the Committee yet the chairman issued each of the
members with a Certificate of Excellent Service
I am sorry to state that anything goes in NBA Nnewi branch and
if one insists that the provision of the Bye- Law should be adhered
to, he becomes the enemy of many members of the branch amongst whom
are senior members of the branch who wouldn’t like the branch to be
guided by the provisions of the Bye-Law but rather by their whims
and caprices. Upon the swearing in of the present chairman, he
unilaterally appointed a member of the branch, Ifeanyi David Esq to
the position of National Executive Committee Representative (NEC
REP) of the branch without recourse to the general meeting even
when he (Chairman) was very much aware that he (Ifeanyi David Esq)
had never held any elective position in the branch. This was
contrary to Section 9 of the Bye-Law which made it clear that those
who are qualified for the position of NEC REP are the two preceding
chairmen and vice chairmen. When I drew the chairman’s attention to
the provision of Section 9 of the Bye-Law he ignored my complaint
and I petitioned the President of NBA who later referred the issue
to NEC for consideration. NEC later nullified the appointment and
directed that the election should be held to elect the branch’s NEC
REP.
In spite of the said admissions made by the 2020 Election
Committee to the effect that the provisions of the Bye-Law was
compromised in the course of conducting the 2020 branch elections,
on 18th day of December, 2020 at the annual dinner of
the branch, the chairman issued Certificates of Excellent Service
to each of the members of the 2020 election committee. I brought it
to the notice of the Chairman that the certificates would encourage
our members to rig elections in future and advised him to withdraw
the certificates but he ignored my advice.
I didn’t have any option than to institute action in court
against the chairman and the 5 members of the election committee
via suit No. HN/10/2021 praying that the certificates be declared
null and void since they are contrary to the objectives of NBA.
Subsequent to the NEC’s directive that fresh election should be
conducted to elect the NEC REP of our branch, the chairman
constituted an election committee to conduct the election. The
Committee in conspiracy with the chairman started scheming to re
appoint the member (Ifeanyi David Esq) who was previously
unlawfully appointed by him. In spite of the admission of the 2020
election committee that the voters list was illegally prepared, the
committee for the NEC REP released a notice adopting the said
voters list used in 2020 election as the voters list for the NEC
REP election. A copy of the said notice is hereby annexed. The
committee in conspiracy with the chairman also through the said
notice disqualified me from contesting for the said position of NEC
REP solely to pave way for the chairman to re appoint Ifeanyi David
Esq to the position of NEC REP which he is not qualified to contest
for. Eventually no election was held. Subsequently, I instituted
action in court via suit No. HN/129/2021 challenging my
disqualification. Even when the parties in the suit (including the
chairman) had been dully served with the court processes, the
chairman is said to have thereafter sent the name of Ifeanyi David
Esq to the President of NBA for recognition as the NEC REP of Nnewi
Branch. That is the extent of lawlessness we experience in Nnewi
branch.
effect that the voters’ list used in the 2020 branch election was
fraudulently prepared and published, the election committee
constituted to conduct an election for the branch’s NEC REP (as
directed by NEC) by the above notice adopted the said voters’ list
for an election that was scheduled to hold on the 26th March
2021.
In Nnewi Bar, Bye-Law is relegated to the dustbin and you dare
not insist that the Bye-Law should be followed except you want to
attract both verbal and physical attacks from members including
senior members of the Branch. During branch elections even non
members of the branch (including very senior Lawyers) determine the
elections by putting pressures on the members of the election
committee to compromise the provisions of the Bye-Law in favour of
their preferred contestants except where the committee is made up
of members with strong character.
THE AD-HOC AUDITING COMMITTEE
First and foremost I am yet to receive any report from the
ad-hoc auditing committee constituted by the chairman in spite of
my applications to that effect. As a result of my insistence
that the provisions of the Bye – Law should be observed in our
branch during the election and after the election, the chairman has
been using the instrumentalities of his office to victimize me.
Sometime in October 2020, I presented account to the general
meeting of the branch and in line with the practice of our branch;
I attended our monthly meetings to take questions from our members.
The Chairman refused to allow me opportunity to take questions from
members and claimed that an ad-hoc auditing committee should be
constituted to enable me make some clarifications on the account.
It is important to note that prior to constituting the Ad-hoc
auditing committee, the chairman instigated his well known
followers who wrote me a letter demanding that I make some
clarifications on the account I presented. On constituting the
Ad-hoc auditing committee, the chairman referred the letter to the
committee for consideration. Initially, when I was invited by the
committee, I entertained some fear in the unbiasedness and
neutrality of the committee in view of the fact that the secretary
of the committee was one of the chairman’s supporters who was not
qualified to vote in the election but was used to rig the chairman
into the office while the chairman of the committee was among the
few lawyers that signed the requisition notice calling for a
physical meeting to set aside the election committee my
administration constituted through an online meeting as a result of
COVID 19 pandemic. This prompted to write the committee a letter to
express my feelings. But to show utmost good faith, I later
conceded to appear before the committee on 19th April,
2021. After appearing before the committee for the said day,
further hearing was adjourned to 21st April, 2021.
Because of the way I was bullied on the said
19th April, 2021, I realized that nothing would make me
to get justice from the committee. I subsequently applied in
writing to the committee to be allowed to engage any lawyer of my
choice to appear with me and defend me in the committee, the
committee refused. I further applied in writing to be allowed to
invite my well wishers to appear with me in the committee, the
committee refused. I applied for stay of
proceedings to enable me challenge the decision of the committee
dismissing my applications in the court of law yet the committee
refused and compelled me to take questions from them. After the
committee finished with me I applied in writing to be allowed to
call witnesses (including members of my executive committee) who
would testify on my behalf and the committee
refused.
I wish to state that when I appeared before the committee I
explained everything I did with the branch’s money and tendered
receipts I could lay hand on. It was very obvious that the
committee was not constituted to discover the truth but rather
constituted with an instruction to indict me. I was denied all
known principles of fair hearing by the committee. The committee
later submitted its report and recommendations to the chairman. But
later the chairman in corroboration with some senior members of the
branch put pressure on the members of the committee to make further
report recommending that I should refund some money to the branch.
It is worthy of note that the chairman of the branch worked as the
secretary of the branch under the administration that handed over
to me.
The said administration inherited over N680,000.00 (Six Hundred
and Eighty Thousand Naira) spent all the money and left a debt of
over N350,000.00 for my administration which I paid and left over
N250,000.00 in the branch’s account after doing some project.
I have written the chairman a letter rejecting the decision
of the committee for being in breach of my right for fair hearing.
It is also important to categorically state that I did not
unilaterally spend the branch’s money and all money spent by my
administration was dully approved and was spent in the interest of
the branch. It is also important to state that when the committee
requested to be presented with the CTC of the minutes of the
branch’s monthly meeting to see approvals by the General meeting, I
applied to the chairman to cause to be released to me the CTC of
the minutes of the monthly meetings of the branch as contend in the
register handed over to his administration but the chairman refused
to cause the CTC of the minutes released to me. This fact was duly
brought to the notice of the committee. May I further make it clear
that from the follow up report of the committee, the money it
(committee) recommended that I should refund to the branch is the
money used to replace the engine, brain box and generally fix the
branch’s bus that got grounded since August 2019. It is then
laughable that the committee did not recommend that those items
caused to be fixed in the bus with the branch’s money should be
returned to me while the money is refunded to the branch. The said
branch bus was handed over to the present administration by me and
it was driven off from the compound of my office by the vice
chairman of the branch on the instruction of the chairman. While
the branch took its bus with the items my administration caused to
be fixed on the bus with the branch’s money the branch cannot
rightly turn around to demand that I refund the money with which
the items were caused to be fixed.
The committee at no place in their report claimed that I did not
cause all those items to be fixed on the bus because they are all
identifiable in the bus. It is important to note that the committee
didn’t care to call for the bus to see for themselves the work done
on the bus because they were not interested in finding the truth.
It is unacceptable that while the branch enjoys the benefits of
what my administration used its money to procure, it turns around
to demand for its money. The money the committee by its follow up
report demanded that I should refund to the branch is money which
provided the branch identifiable benefits which the members of the
branch have enjoyed or enjoying. The committee’s follow up report
is nothing than the extension of Kingsley Awuka’s effort to get me
silenced at all cost but it cannot be possible.
DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE REPORT
With respect to the Disciplinary Committee’s report, I wish to
state that till date I am yet to receive any copy of the alleged
report of the Disciplinary Committee. I wish to state that I did
not appear before the Disciplinary Committee of our branch in
respect of the alleged mutilation of branch’s attendance register.
Through the letter dated 22/3/2021. I notified the committee and
the chairman of the branch why I would not appear before the
committee. When I looked at the composition of the Disciplinary
committee I realized that the members of the committee must be
biased if I appeared before the committee. I realized that the
chairman of the branch intentionally selected only members of my
branch who I have had cause to differ with in most hostile
circumstances. Our branch is made up of over 200 (Two hundred)
members but the chairman of the branch intentionally chose the nine
(9) members of our branch each of whom to his knowledge I have had
issues with by one way or the other in the course of insisting that
the provisions of the Bye –law should be observed in what we are
doing in our branch. The members of the Disciplinary Committee are
9 and I shall here under state why each of them cannot see that
justice is meted on me if I appeared before the committee:
- The chairman of the committee is Sam Onyia Esq. Sam Onyia Esq
is the 2nd defendant in suit No. HN/72/2021 in which I
sued him and two others including the chairman who is the
1st defendant for unlawfully disqualifying me from
participating in election for NEC REP of my branch. - The Alternate chairman of the committee is Ifeanyi David Esq.
Ifeanyi David Esq is the member of my branch who was unlawful
appointed as NEC REP of our branch by the chairman which
appointment was nullified by the National Executive Committee (NEC)
of NBA pursuant to my petition to the President of NBA. - T.O Igwegbe Esq was a member of the committee. T.O. Igwegbe Esq
was a member of 2020 Election Committee and the 3rd
defendant in suit NO. HN/10/2021 which I instituted to challenge
the Certificate of Excellent Service the chairman issued to her and
other members of the 2020 election committee that compromised the
provisions of the Bye law and rigged the chairman into office. The
chairman is 1st defendant in the suit. - K.O. Odimegwu Esq. was a member of the committee. He is the
4th defendant in suit No. HN/129/2020 in which I
instituted against him and 8 other members who made efforts to
unlawfully impeach me from the office for insisting that the first
election committee my administration constituted (through the
online meeting as a result of COVID 19 pandemic) should conduct the
2020 election. The chairman is the 3rd defendant in the
suit. - Nnamdi Chima Esq is also a member of the committee and the
1st defendant in suit No. HN/129/2020 in which I
instituted against him and 8 other members who made efforts to
unlawfully impeach me from the office for insisting that the first
election committee my administration constituted (through the
online meeting as a result of COVID 19 pandemic) should conduct the
2020 election. The chairman is the 3rd defendant in the
suit. - M.N Emecheta Esq. is the 6th member of the committee
M.N Emecheta Esq is one of the well known supporters of the
chairman who was not qualified to vote during the 2020 election but
who was used to rig the chairman into the office. She was No. 70 on
the voters list yet she paid her 2020 branch dues on 04/06/2020. I
have on different occasions publicly criticized her for allowing
herself to be used to rig the chairman into the office. - Chioma Nwachukwu Esq is the 7th member of the
committee. Chioma Nwachukwu Esq was also one of the well known
supporters of the chairman who was not qualified to vote during the
2020 branch’s election but was cleared to vote solely to rig the
chairman into the office. She was NO. 47 on the voters list yet she
paid her branch dues on 01/04/2020. I have also publicly criticized
her for allowing herself to be used to rig the chairman into the
office. - Obinna Nnaka Esq is the 8th member of the committee.
Obinna Nnaka Esq is the 6th defendant in suit No.
HN/129/2020 in which I instituted against him and 8 other members
who made efforts to unlawfully impeach me from the office for
insisting that the first election committee my administration
constituted (through the online meeting as a result of COVID 19
pandemic) should conduct the 2020 election. The chairman is the
3rd defendant in the suit. - A.C Edu Esq is the 9th member of the committee
defendant. A.C Edu Esq was one of the members of my branch who in
2020 signed a requisition notice forcing me to call for physical
meeting of the branch to constitute a fresh election committee
which I conceded to without knowing that the motive was to
constitute an election committee that would compromise the
provisions of the Bye-law and rig the chairman into the office. I
have publicly criticized his action in that regard.
When I discovered that the chairman intentionally selected those
who would be biased in their judgment to be members of the
Disciplinary Committee I wrote him the letter indicating that I
would not appear before the committee with such composition. The
committee was dully informed that I would not appear before it and
the reason why I would not appear before it.
For the avoidance of any doubt, I did not in any way alter any
part of our branch’s register. I handed over the branch’s
attendance register to the chairman of the election committee the
same way I believed I had received it from the then General
Secretary of the branch Egbuna Odimegwu Esq. It is important to
note that in 2020 (prior to the 2020 election) one of the
chairman’s followers, one Kingsley Aroh Esq posted a copy of an
attendance register on our branch’s platform and when I saw it, I
asked the then secretary how Kingsley Aroh Esq became in possession
of our attendance register and he told me that the attendance
register was stolen while we were having our monthly meeting but
that he later found it. Surprisingly, the then General Secretary
later informed me that the Chairman (Kingsley Awuka Esq) came to
his office and requested for a copy of register and he (General
Secretary) released it to his (General Secretary), secretary in the
office to do a photocopy for the Chairman (Kingsley Awuka Esq).
When he told that, I asked him whether there was any application to
that effect and he said no. I scolded him for doing that. I am
surprised that it is said that the same then General Secretary
turned around and claimed that he did a photocopy of the attendance
register and handed over the original to me at the premises of DPP
Nnewi. It is important to note that in the same 2020, prior to the
election A.A Igwebuike Esq, the chairman’s co-contestant accused
the chairman of deleting his name in the copies of the register he
was then having. I am most surprised that it was alleged that the
same A.A Igwebuike Esq claimed that I gave him the branch’s
attendance register to mutilate. May I clearly state that the then
General Secretary gave me the attendance register at the premises
of the office of DPP Nnewi at about 6.30pm immediately after the
emergency general meeting at which the 2nd 2020 Election
Committee that compromised the Bye-Law in the course of conducting
the election was constituted. The General Secretary had no time to
do any photocopies at that time because he handed over to me
immediately the meeting came to a close as I was sitting with him
on one table coupled with the fact that it was during the lock down
caused by COVID 19 pandemic and no business outfit was open within
the vicinity at that time. I am surprised as to when and where he
did the photocopy he was said to have claimed to have done. It is
important to note that I would have handed over the attendance
register to the Chairman of the Election Committee at the same time
and venue I collected it from the then General Secretary but he
(Chairman Election Committee) requested that I give him the
register with the constitution of NBA and the cheque for the money
approved for conducting of the election. I currently have a copy of
the register I handed over to the chairman of the election
committee. I hereby categorically reject the report of the
Disciplinary Committee.
Dated this 1st day of June 2021.
P. C. Ugwuanyi Esq
Immediate Past Chairman,
NBA Nnewi