April 15, (THEWILL) – The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has refuted claims that the Rivers State Government paid a hosting fee for its 2025 Annual General Conference (AGC), stating that the decision to hold the event in Port Harcourt was neither subject to a bidding process nor contingent on any financial contribution.
The clarification followed a demand by the Administrator of Rivers State, Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, who called on the NBA to refund N300 million allegedly paid by the state government for the right to host the upcoming conference.
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Hector Igbikiowubo, the Rivers State Administrator questioned the NBA’s integrity, accusing the association of failing to address the refund of the N300 million despite publicly distancing itself from the state.
“While we respect the NBA’s right to choose its conference venues, we find it curious that the association—despite its ‘principled position’—did not address the refund of the N300 million already paid by the Rivers State Government for hosting rights. 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,” Ibas stated.
Reacting to the allegations, Chairman of the 2025 NBA AGC Planning Committee, Emeka Obegolu, SAN, said the decision to hold the conference in Port Harcourt was made in August 2024 and did not involve any competitive bidding or payment for hosting rights.
“The 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 state government paid hosting rights for the NBA AGC 2025,” the statement read.
It added, “We 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 for hosting rights. The host city has no entitlement to hosting rights, and the NBA has not made any representation to that effect.”
Obegolu explained that the NBA often reaches out to state governments, corporate organisations, and other institutions to solicit support for its conferences due to the significant cost involved. He stressed that such support is not conditional and does not confer hosting privileges.
“Recent NBA conferences have received support from various state governments, ministries, departments and agencies, and corporate organisations whose budgets include corporate social responsibility and who share the NBA’s vision. These financial contributions are categorised as gifts, partnerships, or sponsorships,” he noted.
He further clarified that the N300 million from the Rivers State Government was a gift and was not tied to any hosting agreement.
“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 matter,” the committee chairman added.
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