The controversy over the N300 million donation by the Rivers State Government to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for its 2025 Annual General Conference (AGC) has intensified, drawing sharp commentary from Dr. Monday Onyekachi Ubani, SAN, a prominent legal practitioner and public affairs analyst. In a detailed statement, Dr. Ubani called on the suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara to provide clarity on the intent behind the donation, which has sparked a heated dispute between the NBA and the Rivers State administration.
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The donation, initially made under Governor Fubara’s leadership, was intended to support the NBA’s AGC, traditionally backed by state governments and private entities to manage the logistical demands of hosting thousands of lawyers. Port Harcourt was originally selected as the host city for the 2025 conference. However, the NBA relocated the event to Enugu, citing President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State and the appointment of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.) as Sole Administrator, which suspended democratic structures.
The NBA’s decision to move the conference prompted Ibas to demand a refund of the N300 million, asserting that the funds were specifically allocated for hosting the AGC in Port Harcourt. The NBA, led by its AGC Planning Committee Chairman Emeka Obegolu, SAN, countered that the money was an unconditional, non-refundable gift, not tied to hosting rights. This disagreement has escalated tensions, with Ibas threatening legal action and questioning the NBA’s criticism of his administration’s legitimacy, suggesting the donation may have influenced the association’s stance.
Dr. Ubani described the situation as “curious and instructive,” highlighting its potential to shape legal and ethical standards for professional bodies receiving government support. He outlined key questions that could define the dispute:
- Was the donation conditional or unconditional?
- Was it a contractual obligation or an act of public goodwill?
- Does the change of venue frustrate the donation’s purpose, if one existed?
- Can a new administration legally reclaim funds donated by its predecessor without evidence of misappropriation or fraud?
Ubani emphasized that the matter, if litigated, could clarify the propriety of financial patronage to organizations like the NBA, Nigerian Medical Association, and Nigerian Society of Engineers. He noted that Governor Fubara’s clarification on the donation’s intent could be pivotal, especially as Ibas has initiated an inquiry into the transaction.
“The NBA must remain calm, professional, and legally grounded,” Ubani urged, warning that the outcome could influence jurisprudence on government-professional body relations. He also called on Fubara to break his silence, stating, “We await the voice of Governor Fubara. Will it be a bombshell? Time will tell.”
The Rivers State Government, through Ibas’s media aide Hector Igbikiowubo, insists the payment was tied to a mutual understanding that Port Harcourt would host the AGC, labeling the NBA’s retention of the funds as a “breach of trust.”
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