The Rivers State Government has threatened legal action to recover ₦300 million from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) over the relocation of its Annual General Conference (AGC) from Port Harcourt to Enugu State.
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The state government stated that the amount was not a donation, as claimed, but part of an agreement to designate Port Harcourt as the host city.
This was contained in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Tuesday by Hector Igbikiowubo, media aide to the State Sole Administrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.).
However, the state government categorically rejected the NBA’s recent assertion that the ₦300 million payment was a “gift” unrelated to the hosting rights for the 2025 NBA AGC. It is noteworthy, though, that the state government failed to provide documented evidence or formal approval to substantiate its claims.
The statement partly reads:
“For clarity, the Rivers State Government’s records show that the payment of ₦300 million to the NBA was made with the mutual understanding that Rivers State would host the 2025 edition of the NBA AGC.
“The Rivers State Government entered into this arrangement with the NBA in good faith, with the belief that hosting the conference in the state would attract significant economic benefits and positively impact the businesses of our people.
“The NBA’s unilateral decision to relocate the AGC 2025—contrary to our mutual understanding—and its subsequent decision to retain the ₦300 million paid for the purpose of hosting the NBA AGC 2025 in Rivers State is unethical and constitutes a breach of trust.”
The statement added that the NBA’s failure to immediately refund the ₦300 million would compel the state government to pursue all available legal avenues to recover the funds, which it described as property belonging to the people of Rivers State. However, critics have pointed out that the Sole Administrator may lack the legal standing to initiate such action, given the constitutional concerns surrounding his appointment.
“We reaffirm our willingness to engage in partnerships with all professional bodies, including the NBA, but we will not tolerate the exploitation of our people and the Rivers State Government,” the statement concluded.
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