NBA: Your Misappropriation of 126k USD MacArthur Grant in 2018 Can Ground Criminal Prosecution, Withdrawal of SAN – LOC Chairman Alfa Warns Murray

The Chairperson of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the 2026 Maiduguri NBA NEC Meeting, Abdulwasiu Alfa, Esq., has accused senior lawyer, Muritala Abdul-Rasheed, SAN, popularly known as Murray, of alleged financial infractions involving the MacArthur Foundation grant received by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) between 2016 and 2018, warning that the matter could ground criminal prosecution, withdrawal of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), and possible disbarment.

In a strongly worded statement addressed to colleagues, Alfa said documentary records exist concerning the handling of funds disbursed under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the NBA and the MacArthur Foundation for the nationwide implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) across the 36 states of the federation.

According to him, the first tranche of $600,000 was released in 2018, barely six months to the end of the NBA administration at the time. The fund was earmarked strictly for public awareness campaigns to facilitate the domestication of criminal justice reforms in states, in line with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).

Alfa alleged that approximately $126,527—equivalent, by his estimation, to about ₦177.8 million at today’s rate—was withdrawn and expended within August 2018, a period coinciding with the transition to a newly elected NBA President.

He contended that the withdrawals were made in violation of the MOU governing the grant, particularly the approval protocol which required that expenditure memos be raised and approved by the President before funds could be disbursed. Drawing a parallel, Alfa referenced former President Muhammadu Buhari and his public denial of approving certain policy decisions attributed to him during the tenure of former CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele.

Alfa further alleged that the funds were diverted from their intended purpose and used to complete the second to fifth floors of the NBA House, describing the act as a “textbook case of misappropriation.”

He cited concerns allegedly raised by members of the project committee who were not part of what he described as the “kitchen cabinet,” claiming that “the size of the withdrawals is in excess of the actual expenses.” He also referenced the 2018 Transition Committee Report, which reportedly stated that the project managers were “obstructionist” and that there was “poor financial reporting and unauthorized withdrawal of the project account with no supporting document for verification.”

Alfa said Murray, who was conferred with the rank of SAN in 2021, was at the center of the controversy as the then leader of the MacArthur Project Team. He claimed that Murray’s SAN application had allegedly faced setbacks on two occasions due to issues surrounding the accounting of the first batch of the MacArthur grant, and that the reconstituted screening committee was not informed of the past controversy.

The LOC Chairman also referred to barristerng.com reports at the time, including headlines such as: “Fraud: Past NBA Officers Spent N64M From MacArthur Account Illegally, Foundation Insists NBA Must Refund.”

Quoting Murray’s explanation at the time, Alfa said the former publicity secretary had acknowledged that unauthorized withdrawals were noticed in August 2018 and reported to the then NBA President. According to the quoted account, the Project Management Team had relied on periodic updates from the NBA Accounts Unit and had not been provided verified bank statements during the implementation period.

Alfa’s statement was issued in response to recent articles authored by Murray calling for the resignation of the current NBA President over alleged loss of confidence and accountability concerns linked to the President’s political choices and financial matters.

He dismissed as unfounded allegations that certain Senior Advocates received a purported $2,000 gift during the Maiduguri NEC meeting, insisting that no such funds were disbursed by the Borno State Government and that no NBA funds were shared with members of the Inner Bar.

Alfa challenged Murray to produce documentary evidence from the Borno State Government, including payment records and beneficiary lists, suggesting that such information could be obtained under the Freedom of Information Act.

On the issue of a ₦300 million donation from the Rivers State Government linked to the 2025 Annual General Conference, Alfa maintained that the contribution was transparently reflected in the NBA’s 2024–2025 audited accounts. He said the funds were transferred directly into the NBA’s account and were never the subject of any formal refund request.

According to him, the 2025 Annual General Conference concluded with a surplus exceeding ₦1 billion, which has since been placed in a fixed deposit account to yield interest for the Association. He described this as unprecedented in the NBA’s history and said it demonstrated a strengthened culture of financial accountability under the current leadership.

Alfa also criticised Murray’s alleged call for the Body of Benchers to intervene in the affairs of the NBA, describing it as an invitation to undermine the independence of the Bar.

“There are settled avenues for calling for a vote of no confidence. Let him trigger them and present his evidence,” Alfa stated, insisting that due process, not public commentary, should guide any challenge to the leadership of the Association.

He further suggested that political undercurrents ahead of the forthcoming NBA elections may be influencing the renewed controversy, alleging that some actors were uncomfortable with the dynamics of the upcoming race.

Concluding, Alfa urged Murray to clear his name regarding the 2018 MacArthur grant disbursements rather than raise allegations against the current leadership.

“Today, he is raising issues of accountability of funds that are not accruable to the Nigerian Bar Association, even when there is nothing on record to indicate that there has been any pilfering of NBA funds,” Alfa stated.