NBA Declares ₦300m From Rivers Was a Gift, Not Refundable
April 15, 2025 | Abuja – IDNN News Desk
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has firmly rejected calls from the Rivers State Government to refund the ₦300 million it received in connection with the now-relocated 2025 Annual General Conference, insisting the funds were not payment for hosting rights but a “gift.”
This clarification came via a statement on Monday by Emeka Obegolu, SAN, Chairperson of the 2025 Conference Planning Committee, in response to a demand by Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), the state’s Sole Administrator.
No Hosting Rights, No Obligation to Refund — NBA
According to Obegolu, the initial decision to host the NBA conference in Port Harcourt was made in August 2024 and was not linked to any bidding process or legal obligation.
“The host city has no hosting rights, and the NBA never made any representation that the event must be held in any particular city,” Obegolu clarified.
He added that the NBA, given the scale and cost of organizing its conference, often solicits voluntary support from stakeholders — including state governments — through unconditional sponsorships, not enforceable contracts.
₦300m Was Voluntary Support, Not Tied to Location
Obegolu described the ₦300 million from the Rivers State Government under Governor Siminalayi Fubara as corporate social responsibility support, which the NBA accepted as part of its broader partnership model.
“The money from Rivers State was a gift and was not tied to any purported hosting right for the NBA Annual General Conference,” he emphasized.
Conference Relocation and Emergency Rule in Rivers
The NBA had earlier relocated the 2025 Annual General Conference from Port Harcourt to Enugu State, citing concerns over the state of emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu on March 18, 2025.
This emergency order suspended Governor Fubara, his deputy, and the entire House of Assembly, citing pipeline attacks and ongoing political unrest.
In their statement, the NBA reiterated that the imposition of a Sole Administrator in place of democratically elected officials was unconstitutional, aligning with broader national outcry from legal experts and political stakeholders.
Constitutional Crisis and NBA’s Ethical Stance
The NBA’s firm stance reflects its position as a defender of constitutional democracy and rule of law, with the relocation of the conference seen as a symbolic protest against what it views as executive overreach in Rivers State.
“We will not aid or legitimize actions that contradict the constitutional order,” Obegolu asserted.
IDNN ANALYSIS
At the heart of this controversy lies a clash between legal ethics, financial accountability, and constitutional interpretation. While the Rivers Government frames the ₦300m as a recoverable investment, the NBA positions it as an unconditional gift, setting the stage for a complex battle of narratives.
With the Supreme Court already drawn into related matters and public scrutiny intensifying, the situation could test the limits of Nigeria’s democratic institutions and their relationships with civil society groups.
