The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the country’s leading professional body for lawyers, is at the center of a heated controversy following its acceptance of a ₦300 million donation from the Rivers State Government. The donation, intended to support the NBA’s upcoming Annual General Conference, has ignited a fierce debate over the ethical boundaries of professional independence versus the practical realities of funding large-scale events.
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The issue came to light after Dr. Ope Banwo, a prominent attorney, public commentator, and founder of Naija Lives Matter, published a scathing critique titled “The NBA and the ₦300 Million Mess of a ‘Donation’ — Is It Legit Fundraising or Proof of a Compromised Lawyers’ Body?” In response, Dr. Monday Onyekachi Ubani, SAN, a respected Senior Advocate and past chairman of the NBA Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL), issued a rejoinder defending the NBA’s decision.
The exchange has sparked a broader conversation about the NBA’s role as a moral authority and its financial dependence on external actors.
Dr. Banwo argues that the NBA’s acceptance of the donation represents a dangerous compromise of its independence and moral authority. He contends that the NBA—often regarded as the “conscience of the nation”—cannot maintain credibility while receiving financial support from political actors, particularly a state government mired in political conflict.
“Whether dressed in legalese or sugar-coated with tradition, the idea that an independent professional body like the NBA should collect hundreds of millions of naira from a sitting state governor is not just problematic; it’s dangerous,” Dr. Banwo wrote.
He emphasized that the timing of the donation—amid ongoing political turmoil in Rivers State—further deepens suspicion.
“You cannot speak truth to power while sipping wine from the same chalice of political patronage,” he added.
Dr. Banwo also questioned the necessity of such a large sum, arguing that in a country where governors owe salaries and courts are underfunded, allocating ₦300 million to a lawyers’ conference is “deeply unsettling.” He called on the NBA to refund the money and implement a policy prohibiting financial contributions from political officeholders. According to him, the Bar must fund its events through member dues and apolitical sponsorships to preserve its integrity.
In his rejoinder, Dr. Ubani maintained that the NBA had done nothing illegal or unethical by accepting the donation. He pointed out that state support for professional conferences is common across various sectors in Nigeria, including medicine, engineering, and accounting.
“Nowhere in the Constitution of the NBA or in any statute regulating professional conduct has it been declared illegal or unethical for a state government to support the Bar,” he stated.
Dr. Ubani argued that the NBA’s financial constraints make such support necessary to host a world-class conference.
“Is it Dr. Banwo’s argument that the NBA should finance a multi-million-naira national conference purely from annual dues of members—many of whom are struggling to meet basic financial obligations in today’s Nigeria?” he asked.
He stressed that refusing state support would be impractical and could result in substandard events, diminishing the NBA’s impact and relevance in national discourse.
Dr. Ubani also rejected the claim that the donation was compromising, asserting:
“The ₦300 million donation, to the best of available information, was neither tied to any political loyalty nor offered in exchange for silence or support.”
He advocated for a balanced approach, calling for clear guidelines on donations rather than outright rejection.
The NBA’s Annual General Conference is one of the largest gatherings of legal professionals in Nigeria, requiring extensive funding for logistics, accommodation, technology, and security. Traditionally, host states have provided financial and logistical support for such events, a practice also observed in other professional associations.
However, the political climate in Rivers State has heightened scrutiny. The state has been entangled in a political crisis, with competing factions battling for control. Critics argue that accepting a donation from such a government could undermine the NBA’s neutrality and ability to hold power accountable.
This controversy has reignited discussions about the NBA’s funding model and its role as a watchdog of democracy. Dr. Banwo insists that the NBA must prioritize independence and credibility, stating:
“The real test of integrity is not what the courts say, but what our conscience says.”
He warned that continued reliance on political donations could erode public trust in the Bar’s objectivity.
Dr. Ubani, however, urged pragmatism, noting that the NBA must balance principles with economic realities.
“The NBA is not a monastery. It exists in the real world, funded by real people, facing real challenges,” he wrote.
He concluded that transparency and accountability—rather than isolation—should guide the NBA’s approach to financial support.
“Boldness is not the refusal of help from credible sources; it is the courage to accept support without surrendering principles.”
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