NBA Port Harcourt Branch Demands Explanation From Nwala Chetam Therry, Esq Over N96 Million Allegations Made On Radio Stations

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Port Harcourt Branch finds itself embroiled in a controversy as a lawyer, Nwala Chetam Therry, Esq., has raised serious allegations against the branch’s Executive Committee.

In a press conference held on Saturday, April 27, 2024, Nwala accused the committee of various acts of misconduct, including the non-disclosure of funds received from the Rivers State Government, disenfranchisement of members in the upcoming branch elections, and the mutilation of the branch meeting attendance register.

According to Nwala, the Executive Committee received over N96 million from the Rivers State Government in April but only disclosed N68 million during the last meeting. He also claimed that some members who attended the April meeting had their names omitted from the published register, while those who never attended meetings had their names written for them, suggesting a deliberate attempt to disenfranchise certain members in the upcoming branch elections.

In response to these allegations, the Chairman and Secretary of the NBA Port Harcourt Branch, Emmanuel Okpala, Esq., and Chinwe Omodu, Esq., respectively, issued a letter to Nwala, demanding that he show cause and substantiate his allegations within two days, failing which the matter would be referred to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) for professional misconduct.

Nwala, however, has refused to back down, stating that the Chairman and Secretary are threatening him rather than addressing the allegations against them. He questioned the move by the Executive Committee to set up an Award Committee partly to award judges, claiming that this could compromise the judiciary and put the NBA in a bad light, especially at a time when most Nigerians are losing trust and hope in the judiciary.

Nwala further alleged that the letter from the Chairman and Secretary was written without the authorization of the Executive Committee and accused them of acting as judges in their own cause. He challenged them to recuse themselves and allow an independent body to investigate the allegations against them.

The controversy has sparked heated debates within the legal community, with some lawyers expressing support for Nwala’s call for transparency and accountability, while others have accused him of seeking to destabilize the branch.

The NBA Port Harcourt Branch has called for an emergency Executive Committee meeting with Nwala’s name as the sole agenda, but Nwala remains undeterred, stating that he will continue to ask questions for the betterment of the NBA.