The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has firmly denied claims by Rivers State’s Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), that the state paid ₦300 million for hosting rights of the 2025 Annual General Conference (AGC). The NBA clarified that the funds were an unconditional gift, not tied to any hosting rights.
In a statement released on Monday, Emeka Obegolu (SAN), Chairman of the NBA Conference Planning Committee, emphasized that the association routinely seeks financial support from various stakeholders, including state governments, to cover the substantial costs of organizing the AGC. Such contributions are considered goodwill gestures and do not confer any hosting rights or privileges.
The NBA’s decision to relocate the 2025 AGC from Port Harcourt to Enugu was prompted by concerns over constitutional breaches in Rivers State. Specifically, the association cited the appointment of a Sole Administrator following the declaration of a state of emergency as undermining democratic governance.
In response to Ibas’s demand for a refund, the NBA maintained that the ₦300 million was a gift and not payment for hosting rights. The association stated that it would not engage in any controversy over the matter and remains committed to delivering a successful conference in Enugu.
