Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas - Chief of Naval Staff PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT (PMB) JULY 13 2015
The Rivers State Government has vowed to recover the sum of N300 million disbursed to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), insisting the funds were explicitly tied to the hosting rights for the NBA’s 2025 Annual General Conference (AGC) in Port Harcourt. The state is now threatening legal action if the amount is not refunded.
This comes in response to the NBA’s claim that the money was an unconditional donation and not tied to the hosting of its flagship conference.
In a statement issued by Hector Igbikiowubo, media aide to the state government under the leadership of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), the government expressed strong disapproval of NBA’s narrative and described the association’s decision to relocate the AGC from Port Harcourt to Enugu as a violation of mutual understanding.
“The government rejects outright NBA’s recent claim that the N300 million paid by the state was a ‘gift’ unrelated to hosting rights for the NBA AGC 2025,” the statement read. “NBA’s unilateral decision to relocate the AGC 2025… is unethical and amounts to a breach of trust.”
The government warned that failure by the NBA to refund the funds would compel it to pursue legal redress. “We reaffirm our willingness to engage in partnerships with all professional bodies, including the NBA, but we will not accommodate exploitation of our people and government,” the statement added.
The controversy has drawn criticism from within the legal community. Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, condemned the NBA’s decision to solicit financial support for its conference, urging the association to return the money to preserve its integrity.
“It is shameful that lawyers—who are the conscience of society—would go begging for money to hold their conference, especially in a country where citizens are grappling with harsh economic realities,” Adegboruwa said. “After all, he who pays the piper calls the tune.”
Also weighing in, the President of the African Public Interest Lawyers Union, Andrew Emwanta, called for an immediate refund of the money. Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Emwanta argued that the NBA’s actions were inappropriate, especially given the political context surrounding the funds.
“There is no proper way to do the wrong thing,” he said. “The proper thing to do, to save the image of our profession, is for that money to be refunded. It’s Rivers taxpayers’ money. If you are not doing business with them, return their money.”
The N300 million was reportedly disbursed under the administration of suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara as part of Rivers State’s commitment to host the prestigious legal gathering.
