The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has declared that the N300million received from Rivers State Government for its 2025 Annual General Conference was a gift that would not be return as demanded by the sole administrator of the state Ibok-Ete Ibas
Penpushing reports that the administrator had earlier in a statement by his spokesperson Hector Igbikiowubo accused the lawyers of not standing on principles, stressing that if they, they should refund the funds and stop discrediting the state they benefited from
“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 reads
Penpushing further reports that, however, Chairperson of the conference’s Planning Committee, Emeka Obegolu, in reaction declared that such support was unconditional and not tied to hosting rights
The statement explained that the relocation of the conference venue to Enugu state was in protest against the declaration of the emergency rule in Rivers state and the subsequent appointment of Ibas as the sole administrator which the association insist is unconstitutional.
Penpushing also reports that Obegolu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, added that contrary to claims by the sole administrtor, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) did not sell the hosting rights to the South-Southern state.
“We wish to clarify that the (initial) decision to host the 2025 Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt was taken in August 2024 and was not subject to any bidding process or payment of any hosting rights. 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 said.
Penpushing reports that the statement explained that due to enormous cost involved in hosting such a conference, the body usually seeks support from organisations, government agencies and state governments.
The association argued that supporting organisations or governments often share the same vision with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and have budgets that accommodate such corporate social responsibilities.
“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 Annual General Conference’, Obegolu emphasised.
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