The Rivers State Government has called on the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to refund N300 million paid for hosting rights after the association relocated its 2025 Annual General Conference from Port Harcourt to Enugu.
Sole Administrator of the state, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), described the NBA’s reasons for the relocation as “misleading and uncharitable,” asserting that the association failed to acknowledge the state’s financial commitment to the event.
In a statement issued on Monday by Ibas’ media aide, Hector Igbikiowubo, the administrator emphasized that while the NBA reserves the right to choose its venue, integrity demands the prompt return of the funds.
“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 read.
Ibas also defended the constitutional legitimacy of the state’s interim administration, referencing a Supreme Court judgment that validated actions taken during the emergency governance period. He urged the NBA to adopt a more constructive approach rather than promoting “divisive narratives.”
“The Sole Administrator remains focused on stabilizing the state and ensuring a smooth return to full democratic governance,” the statement concluded.