Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Prominent human rights lawyer and former Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Owerri Branch, Chinedu Agu, has fired back at the Imo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon. Paul Obinatu, and the NBA Owerri Branch leadership over an alleged N350 million government largesse to the six NBA branches in the state. Agu’s response, issued on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, came after a 24-hour ultimatum from the branch leadership demanding he retract his allegations against the Attorney-General or face disciplinary action. Rather than back down, Agu delivered what he termed a "Socratic apology"—offering an unyielding defense of his actions while levelling further accusations of financial inducement, arm-twisting, and executive interference.
The controversy centres on the Imo State Government's reported allocation of N100 million to NBA Owerri and N50 million each to the other five branches in the state. Agu had earlier raised concerns over the timing and purpose of the money, particularly amid a dispute surrounding the appointment of a substantive Chief Judge for Imo State. In an August 16 publication, he alleged that the six NBA branch chairmen were being courted to sign a letter to the National Judicial Council (NJC) concerning the appointment, while a N350 million package was allegedly being contemplated as support for their attendance at the NBA conference. His subsequent August 28 article, titled “The ₦350m Imo Government Largesse to the NBA and Some Uncomfortable Questions,” questioned whether the government’s financial intervention represented genuine support for lawyers or could potentially influence the independence of the Bar.
In his latest statement, titled "The Audacity of Saying the Uncomfortable Truth, and Its Burden," Agu invoked Ayi Kwei Armah’s The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born and the classical defense of Socrates to double down on his revelations. “I shall apologise,” Agu wrote, but he added that he understood an apology “in the sense in which Socrates understood his apologia.” According to him, his apology is not an admission that the allegations are false, but an opportunity to explain the basis upon which he made them. Agu said he was prepared to demonstrate that all six NBA branches in Imo had supplied their official bank account details before the Annual General Conference, and that while five branches received their allocations on August 24, the Mbaise Branch did not receive its N50 million until September 1—a delay he argued was significant because of an earlier message from the branch chairman, Dr. Mazi Udegbulem, requesting the account details.
Agu’s allegations have exposed a deep rift within the legal community in Imo State. The NBA Owerri Branch leadership had demanded that Agu either substantiate his claims or issue a formal apology to the Attorney-General for alleged false publications. However, Agu has refused to retract, instead expanding his allegations and arguing that his questions have attracted a disciplinary response rather than substantive answers. The controversy has drawn widespread attention, with civil society groups and legal practitioners questioning the timing and purpose of the government's financial intervention. The Centre for Human Rights Advocacy and Wholesome Society (CEHRAWS) has called on the Imo State Government to publicly explain the reported release of the funds, arguing that the issue is not whether lawyers deserve financial support, but whether such a large sum of public money could have been better invested in addressing long-standing challenges confronting Imo’s justice sector.
The dispute has also raised serious questions about the independence of the Bar and the integrity of the judicial appointment process. Documents obtained by SaharaReporters revealed that the cash disbursement coincided with a subtle push by state authorities to compel the chairmen of the six NBA branches to sign an official letter addressed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the NJC, appealing for the swift appointment of a substantive Chief Judge. The letter, dated August 14, 2026, urged the NJC to fast-track the appointment, arguing that Imo State had been operating without a substantive Chief Judge since November 2024. However, Agu warned that such a letter, if issued in the name of Imo lawyers, could create the impression that the NJC is responsible for the delay, a narrative he described as misleading because the issue arises from the process being undertaken by the Imo State Judicial Service Commission.
As the legal community watches closely, Agu has made it clear that he will not be silenced. His refusal to back down has set the stage for a potential showdown between the Imo State Government, the NBA leadership, and a lawyer who insists on speaking what he calls "the uncomfortable truth." The question now is whether the government will address the allegations head-on or whether the pressure on Agu will intensify. For now, the spotlight remains firmly on the six NBA branch chairmen, the N350 million, and the unresolved controversy over the appointment of a substantive Chief Judge for Imo State.
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