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From Tony John, Port Harcourt
The Rivers State government has insisted that the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) must refund ₦300 million paid for hosting the 2025 Annual General Conference (AGC), which was relocated from Port Harcourt to Enugu.
In a statement on Tuesday by Hector Igbikiowubo, Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Rivers State Government, the government rejected the NBA’s claim that the ₦300 million, released by suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, was a “gift” with no hosting rights attached.
“The Rivers State Government, however, outrightly rejects the NBA’s recent allegation that the ₦300 million payment made by the state was a ‘gift’, unrelated to hosting rights for the NBA AGC 2025,” Igbikiowubo said.
He clarified that records show the payment was made with the mutual understanding that Rivers would host the conference, bringing economic benefits to the state.
“For clarity, the Rivers State Government’s records show that the payment of ₦300 million to the NBA was made with the mutual understanding that Rivers State would host the 2025 edition of the NBA AGC,” he stated.
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The government described the NBA’s decision to move the AGC to Enugu and retain the funds as unethical and a breach of trust.
“The NBA’s unilateral decision to relocate the AGC 2025 against our mutual understanding and subsequent decision to withhold the ₦300 million paid for the purpose of hosting the NBA AGC 2025 in Rivers State is unethical and amounts to a breach of trust,” Igbikiowubo added.
The state vowed to pursue all legal means to recover the funds if the NBA does not refund them immediately.
“Failure of the NBA to immediately refund the ₦300 million to the Rivers State Government will compel the implementation of all legal means to recover the property of the good people of Rivers State,” the statement read.
While open to partnerships with professional bodies like the NBA, the government stressed it would not tolerate exploitation.
