The Rivers State government has called on the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to refund the N300 million it reportedly received as payment for the hosting rights of the association’s 2025 Annual General Conference (AGC), which has now been relocated from Port Harcourt to Enugu.
According to a statement issued by Hector Igbikiowubo, the senior special assistant on media to the Rivers government, the NBA’s recent actions reflect inconsistency and a lack of integrity. The government argued that if the legal body claims to operate on principle, it should act accordingly by returning the funds.
The NBA announced last Friday that it had moved the upcoming AGC from Rivers State, citing what it described as “constitutional violations” under the current administration. The association expressed concerns about the legitimacy of governance in the state following the federal government’s declaration of a state of emergency.
“Currently, Rivers State is being governed by a retired military officer, appointed as a Sole Administrator, who operates with a command-style approach that disregards constitutional provisions, court decisions, and pending litigation,” the NBA said in a statement explaining the venue change.
This decision followed weeks of political tension, culminating in President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of emergency rule in the state. The president suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and the entire state House of Assembly for six months. He also appointed retired Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as the state’s sole administrator.
In response, the Rivers government defended the emergency measures, stating they were implemented to address a breakdown of law, order, and democratic governance. The state insisted that the current administration is committed to reinstating democratic institutions.
“Contrary to the NBA’s assertions, the sole administrator has consistently reaffirmed his commitment to restoring democratic institutions as soon as practicable,” the statement read. It also mentioned that constitutional rights, such as freedom of movement and speech, are being upheld, and that the administration has respected court decisions, including those of the Supreme Court.
While acknowledging the NBA’s right to select its preferred conference locations, the Rivers government criticised the association for failing to address the matter of the N300 million already paid. “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,” the statement concluded.
In August 2024, NBA President Afam Osigwe had initially confirmed Port Harcourt as the host city for the 2025 AGC before the decision was reversed amid the state’s ongoing political crisis.
