The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has refuted claims that the Rivers State Government paid for hosting rights to secure the 2025 Annual General Conference (AGC), scheduled to take place in Port Harcourt.
In a statement issued by the Chairman of the AGC 2025 Planning Committee, Emeka Obegolu, SAN, the NBA clarified that the selection of Port Harcourt as host city was made in August 2024 and was neither subject to a bidding process nor influenced by any financial agreement.
“The host city has no hosting right, and there is no representation by the NBA that the Conference must be held in a chosen city,” Obegolu said, addressing the comments reportedly made by the Administrator of Rivers State.
He further explained that the NBA typically seeks support from corporate bodies, government ministries, agencies, and state governments to defray the significant costs of organizing the annual event. These forms of support, according to the statement, are not tied to any hosting privileges.
“Support requested is unconditional and not tied to hosting rights or any rights whatsoever. The money from Rivers State was a gift and not linked to any purported hosting right,” the statement emphasized.
Obegolu noted that previous NBA conferences have benefited from financial and logistical support from various stakeholders who share the association’s vision and accommodate such sponsorships as part of their corporate social responsibility budgets.
Reiterating the association’s focus, the committee chairman assured members of the legal profession and the public that preparations for the 2025 AGC remain on track and unaffected by political commentary.
“We are committed to delivering a world-class conference to members of the Bar and will not be drawn into any unnecessary controversy over this issue,” he concluded.
The 2025 NBA AGC is expected to draw legal professionals from across Nigeria and beyond, continuing the tradition of the annual gathering as one of the most important events on the association’s calendar.
