In a statement released on Monday by Emeka Obegolu (SAN), Chairman of the 2025 AGC Planning Committee, the NBA said that the money received from the Rivers State Government was an unconditional gift, not a payment for hosting rights.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has debunked claims by the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Ibok-Ete Ibas, that the state government paid the sum of N300million for the rights to host the NBA’s 2025 Annual General Conference (AGC).
In a statement released on Monday by Emeka Obegolu (SAN), Chairman of the 2025 AGC Planning Committee, the NBA said that the money received from the Rivers State Government was an unconditional gift, not a payment for hosting rights.
This followed the administrator’s earlier statement signed by Hector Igbikiowubo, senior special assistant on media to the Rivers state government, demanding a refund of the N300 million the state government gave to NBA for the 2025 AGC.
The demand for the refund was sequel to the NBA’s decision to relocate the conference from Port Harcourt to Enugu, citing constitutional violations in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu’s emergency rule declared in the state.
However, Ibas described the NBA’s decision as politically motivated and accused the association of failing to acknowledge the constitutional context behind his administrative structure in the state.
Igbikiowubo stated, “Contrary to the NBA’s assertions, the sole administrator has consistently reaffirmed his commitment to restoring democratic institutions as soon as practicable.
“Upholding the constitutional rights of all residents, including freedom of movement, speech, and association.
“Respecting judicial pronouncements, including those of the Supreme Court, which have guided the administration’s actions.
“While we respect the NBA’s right to choose its conference venues, we find it curious that the association, despite its ‘principled position’, didn’t address the refund of the N300 million already paid by the Rivers State Government for the hosting rights of the 2025 conference.
“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.”
But NBA noted 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.
Obegolu emphasised that the NBA does not sell hosting rights for its conference, and the selection of host cities is not based on financial transactions.
“The host city has no hosting right and there is no representation by the NBA that the Conference must be held in a chosen city,” he noted.
According to him, financial contributions from governments, ministries, agencies, and corporate organisations are typically solicited to offset the enormous cost of hosting the AGC.
These contributions, Obegolu stressed, are treated as sponsorships, partnerships, or gifts — not as transactional payments tied to any form of entitlement.
“Traditionally, because of the enormous cost involved in hosting the AGC, NBA Conference Planning Committee approaches organisations, agencies of government and state governments for support and the support requested for 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,” he stated.
The NBA assured its members and the public of its commitment to delivering a world-class conference and dismissed the controversy as unnecessary.
“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,” Obegolu noted.