*Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd.), Sole Administrator of Rivers State of Nigeria, says despite the ‘principled position’ of the Nigerian Bar Association on the state of affairs in Rivers and related national issues, the Association has not refunded the N300 million the Rivers State Government already paid for ‘hosting rights’ of its 2025 Annual General Conference, in Port Harcourt

*Funding support is a gift, not for hosting rights, replies NBA

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

For its alleged hypocritical posturing on the current emergency rule and general state of affairs in the South-South state, Vice-Admiral (VA) Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd.), Sole Administrator of Rivers State, has has slammed the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and asked the Association to refund the N300 million the Rivers State Government paid it for hosting the 2025 NBA Annual General Conference (AGC), in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

绿帽献妻 reports the NBA, last week, decided to move the venue of the forthcoming conference to Enugu State.

Hector Igbikiowubo, Spokesman to Ibas, in a statement Monday, April 14, 2025, noted the Rivers State Administrator said: 鈥淲hile we respect the NBA鈥檚 right to choose its conference venues, we find it curious that the association鈥攄espite its 鈥榩rincipled position鈥欌�� didn鈥檛 address the refund of the N300 million already paid by the Rivers State Government for the hosting rights of the 2025 conference.鈥�

It is recalled the NBA had criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State, and suspending all elected officials, including Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his Deputy, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly over the political logjam affecting good governance in the state.

The Association noted President Tinubu has violated Section 305 of the Nigerian 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The NBA also emphasised that the President lacks the power to remove Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and other elected officials from office.

Subsequently, the Association recently moved its 2025 conference from Port Harcourt to Enugu in Enugu State, in a clear protest against the emergency rule in Rivers.

The National Executive Council (NEC) of NBA as the umbrella body of legal practitioners in the country, after a meeting held March 27, resolved to shift the venue of the scheduled conference to Enugu.

That was after what the Association described as a series of undemocratic developments in Rivers State, report said.

The NBA also accused Ibas, whose appointment as a Sole Administrator, it said, was illegal, of 鈥渇louting the rule of law with impunity.鈥�

On N300m payment, NBA’s principle/integrity and ‘endorsing illegality’ in Rivers

The Nigerian Bar Assocation stated that hosting the conference in Port Harcourt after the installation of the emergency rule would amount to endorsing illegality in the state.

However, Ibas affirmed the Association has not deemed it right to return the money to its so-called “illegal” arrangement in the state.

The Association further stated: 鈥淐urrently, Rivers State is being governed by a retired Military Officer, appointed as a Sole Administrator, who operates within a command-style approach that disregards constitutional provisions, court decisions, and pending litigations.

鈥淗is actions have undermined democratic institutions and processes, flouting the rule of law with impunity. “Though clad in civilian attire, he governs as though the state is under military rule.”

Accountability: Refund Rivers State鈥檚 N300 million fund 鈥揤A Ibas

Reacting to the NBA’s decision to relocate the conference venue from Port Harcourt to Enugu, Vice-Admiral Ibas simply asked the Association to refund the N300 million the state government paid to the NBA for 鈥渉osting rights鈥�.

The Administrator asserted: 鈥淚f 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.鈥�

Mr Ibas said the oil-rich state was passing through a challenging phase in its democratic journey and appealed to the NBA to engage constructively, offering solutions instead of amplifying divisive narratives.

Fund support not condition for conference hosting, NBA claims

In the Association’s reminder to Ibas’ demand for a refund of the N300 million tax payers’ money the Rivers State Government paid, Mr. Emeka Obegolu, SAN, Chairman of its Conference Planning Committee, in a statement issued Monday, said the money from Rivers State was “a gift” that was not tied to any purported hosting rights.

The legal body said it was normal for its organising committee, in view of the enormous cost involved in hosting its AGC, to approach organisations, agencies of government and state governments for “support”.

The NBA also stated that such support requested was unconditional, and not tied to hosting rights or any rights whatsoever.

Though the Association said it would not be drawn into any unnecessary controversy with Ibas over this issue, the statement did indicate whether the NBA would return the money to Rivers Government coffers or otherwise.

Obegolu, SAN, further noted in the statement: 鈥淭he 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.

鈥淲e wish to clarify that the decision to host the 2025 AGC in Port Harcourt was taken, in August 2024, and was not subject to any bidding process or payment of any hosting rights.”

He said: 鈥淭he host city has no hosting rights, and there is no representation by the NBA that the conference must be held in a chosen city.

鈥淭raditionally, 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.”

The Chairman of the Conference Planning Committee stated: 鈥淩ecent 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.

鈥淪uch financial supports are in the form of gifts, partnerships or sponsorships.”

Obegolu also explained: 鈥淭he money from Rivers State was a gift and was not tied to any purported hosting right for the NBA AGC.

鈥淲e 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.鈥�

Meanwhile, another lawyer familiar with the NBA proposed conference admitted the Association received the money from the Rivers State Government, but said it was not a condition for hosting the conference in Port Harcourt.

The lawyer, who preferred to be anonymous because he is not permitted to speak on the matter, said other states鈥� governments also support the NBA conference even when it is not hosted in their states, Premium Times report said.

The legal practitioner said: 鈥淭here was no such contract. Rivers State gave money to the NBA, not as a condition for hosting the conference in the state.

“The NBA has incurred losses due to the cancellation. Are we also going to ask Rivers State for a refund?”

He also noted: 鈥淲e鈥檝e made tags and bags for the conference that are branded as Rivers 2025 which is no longer useful due to the cancellation. “NBA’s decision to leave Rivers State is on principle.”

The legal body maintained that retaining Rivers State as the host of its 2025 conference would amount to 鈥渁 tacit endorsement of constitutional violations and subversion of the rule of law.鈥�

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