The Rivers State Government has demanded a refund of ₦300 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 statement issued on Monday by the media aide to the state’s Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), the government described the NBA’s justification for the venue change as “misleading and uncharitable.”
While acknowledging the NBA’s right to select a new host city, Ibas criticized the association for failing to address the refund of the ₦300 million previously paid by the state for hosting rights.
“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,” the statement read.
The NBA had on April 10 cited concerns about democracy and the rule of law in Rivers as part of the reason for moving the conference. However, the Rivers State Government refuted these claims, stating that the current administration is constitutionally backed and aimed at restoring order following the declaration of a state of emergency.
“The NBA’s statement overlooks the constitutional basis for the current administration in Rivers State,” the statement said, adding that the Sole Administrator’s appointment was a response to a breakdown in public order and democratic processes.
The government also referenced a Supreme Court ruling—Suit No. SC/CV/1176/2024—to defend recent administrative actions, noting the court’s decision that elections conducted in violation of the Electoral Act are unconstitutional.
Ibas urged the NBA to act with fairness and avoid politicizing legal issues, calling on the association to engage constructively rather than contribute to tension.
“The Sole Administrator remains focused on his mandate to stabilize the state and facilitate a smooth return to full constitutional governance,” the statement concluded.
As of press time, the NBA had not issued a response to the request for a refund.
