The Nigerian Bar Association has refuted claims made by the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), regarding the alleged payment of ₦300 million for the hosting rights of the 2025 Annual General Conference, which has now been relocated to Enugu State.
In a statement issued on Monday by the Chairman of the NBA Conference Planning Committee, Mr. Emeka Obegolu, SAN, the association firmly stated that the sum in question was a donation and not a fee tied to any agreement to host the event.
The NBA emphasized that the contribution from Rivers State was unconditional and not associated with any form of hosting rights.
Highlighting standard practice, the NBA noted that its Conference Planning Committee routinely seeks support from various bodies, including state governments and public agencies, to cushion the high cost of organizing the AGC.
Such support, the body clarified, is typically considered a gesture of goodwill and not an entitlement to host the conference.
“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 the Rivers State government paid hosting rights for the hosting of the NBA AGC 2025,” the statement read.
“We wish to clarify that the decision to host the 2025 AGC in Portharcourt was taken in August 2024 and was not subject to any bidding process or payment of any hosting rights.
“The host city has no hosting rights, 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, the NBA Conference Planning Committee approaches organisations and agencies of government and state governments for support, and the support requested is unconditional and not tied to hosting rights or any rights whatsoever.
“Recent NBA conferences have been supported by different state governments, corporate organisations, 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.”
This development follows the decision taken on March 27 by the National Executive Council of the NBA to change the venue of the 2025 AGC from Rivers State to Enugu.
The council cited troubling political developments in Rivers State, describing them as undemocratic.
The NBA took issue with the appointment of Ibas as a Sole Administrator, declaring it illegal and accusing him of disregarding the rule of law.
The NBA pointed out that proceeding with Rivers State as the host would imply “a tacit endorsement of constitutional violations and subversion of the rule of law.”
