The Rivers State Government has demanded a refund of N300 million from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) following the association’s decision to relocate its 2025 Annual General Conference from Port Harcourt to Enugu.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Monday, the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), described the NBA’s reasons for the relocation as “misleading, uncharitable, and unbecoming of a professional body.”
The statement, signed by his media aide, Hector Igbikiowubo, challenged the NBA’s moral high ground, noting that while the association has every right to choose its preferred venue, it must also return the funds already paid by the Rivers State Government for hosting rights.
“While we respect the NBA’s right to choose its conference venues, we find it curious that the association, despite its so-called principled position, failed to address the refund of the N300 million already paid by the Rivers State Government,” the statement read. “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.”
Reacting to the NBA’s claim that its decision was influenced by concerns over the rule of law under the current Rivers administration, Ibas maintained that the relocation was based on political sentiment, not legal fact.
“The NBA’s statement overlooks the constitutional basis for the current administration in Rivers State. The declaration of a state of emergency was a necessary response to the breakdown of public order and democratic processes,” Ibas said.
He further referenced the recent Supreme Court ruling in Suit No. SC/CV/1176/2024, which nullified local government elections conducted in violation of the Electoral Act. According to him, the court’s position affirms the legal standing of the transitional measures currently in place in the state.
“The Sole Administrator’s mandate is to oversee a transitional period that ensures the return of full democratic governance in line with the Constitution. To suggest that this intervention ‘flouts the rule of law’ is not only incorrect but ignores the Supreme Court’s validation of key decisions made during this period,” the statement added.
Calling for constructive engagement, Ibas urged the NBA and other stakeholders to support efforts aimed at stabilizing the state.
“Rivers State is undergoing a necessary phase in its democratic journey. Rather than stoking tensions, the NBA should engage constructively and support peace and progress,” he said.
The ball is now in the NBA’s court, with the Rivers State Government expecting a prompt refund—or at the very least, accountability.
