The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has rubbished claims made by Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), that the state paid N300 million to secure hosting rights for the 2025 Annual General Conference (AGC).
In a firm rebuttal issued Monday by Emeka Obegolu (SAN), Chairman of the 2025 AGC Planning Committee, the NBA made it clear: the money was a donation — not a transaction.
“The money from Rivers State was a gift and was not tied to any purported hosting right for the NBA AGC,” Obegolu stated.
NBA: NO BIDDING, NO HOSTING RIGHTS — JUST SUPPORT
The rebuttal follows an earlier statement by Ibas’ media aide, Hector Igbikiowubo, demanding a refund of the N300 million, after the NBA relocated the conference from Port Harcourt to Enugu over alleged constitutional violations in Rivers State under Tinubu’s emergency declaration.
Ibas accused the NBA of politicising the decision and ignoring what he described as a constitutional basis for his role in the state.
“If the NBA truly stands on principle, it should return the money,” the statement read.
But the NBA isn’t buying it.
Obegolu clarified that the August 2024 decision to host the conference in Port Harcourt was made without any bidding process and that the association does not sell hosting rights.
“The host city has no hosting right. The NBA does not make any representation that the Conference must be held in a chosen city,” he said.
SUPPORT ≠ STRINGS ATTACHED
According to Obegolu, financial support for the AGC is typically solicited from governments and corporate organisations to offset the enormous costs of hosting.
“Such support is unconditional. It comes as sponsorships, partnerships or gifts — not as payments with entitlements.”
He added that past NBA conferences have enjoyed similar support from various stakeholders whose budgets allow for corporate social responsibility.
NBA STAYS FOCUSED
Dismissing the controversy as a distraction, the NBA reiterated its focus on professionalism:
“We are committed to delivering a world-class conference to members of the Bar and will not be drawn into any unnecessary controversy over this issue.”
With tensions still high in Rivers State, the NBA’s response signals a firm stance on its independence — and a warning against attempts to politicise Nigeria’s professional institutions.
