- Safiu Kehinde
Rivers State Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas (Rtd) has on Monday demanded N300 million refund from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) following the association’s relocation of its Annual General Conference from the state’s capital, Port Harcourt, to Enugu.
The NBA had initially selected Rivers as the host state ahead of the one-week conference slated to hold in August.
However, the declaration of state of emergency and suspension of Rivers governor, and Siminalayi Fubara, tend to have motivated the change in location as NBA strongly condemned the emergency rule.
The NBA had cited the undemocratic activities of Ibas as reason behind the relocation of the conference from Rivers.
Reacting to the development in a statement issued on Monday, Ibas charged the NBA to refund the N300 million paid by the state to host the conference.
“While we respect the NBA’s right to choose its conference venues, we find it curious that the association—despite its “principled position”— didn’t address the refund of the N300 million already paid by the Rivers State Government for the hosting rights of the 2025 conference.
“If the NBA truly stands on principle, it should demonstrate the same integrity by promptly returning these funds rather than benefiting from a state it now publicly discredits.
“We find the reasons cited for this decision—particularly the insinuation that the Sole Administrator’s actions have undermined democracy and the rule of law—to be misleading, uncharitable, and unbecoming of an association that prides itself on upholding justice and fairness.
“The NBA’s statement overlooks the constitutional basis for the current administration in Rivers State.” the statement partly read.
In response, the NBA, in a statement issued by the Chairman of the conference planning committee, Emeka Obegolu, maintained that the no state has a hosting right for the conference.
Obegolu explained that the initial plan to hold the conference in Rivers was decided back in August 2024.
The planning committee chairman noted that the said N300 million payment was a gift and was not tied to any purported hosting right for the NBA AGC.
The statement read in part; “The attention of the Annual General Conference planning committee has been drawn to a statement credited to the Administrator of Rivers state to the effect that Rivers state government paid hosting rights for the hosting of the NBA AGC 2025.
“We wish to clarify that the decision to host the 2025 AGC in Portharcourt was taken in August 2024 and was not subject of any bidding process or payment of any hosting rights.
“The host city has no hosting right and there is no representation by the NBA that the Conference must be held in a chosen city.
“Traditionally, because of the enormous cost involved in hosting the AGC, NBA Conference Planning Committee approaches organizations, agencies of government and state governments for support and the support requested for is unconditional and not tied to hosting rights or any rights whatsoever.
“Recent NBA conferences have been supported by different state governments, corporate organizations, ministries, departments and agencies whose budgets accommodate corporate social responsibilities and share the same vision with NBA. Such financial supports are in the form of gifts, partnerships or sponsorships.
“The money from Rivers State was a gift and was not tied to any purported hosting right for the NBA AGC.
“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.”