The Rivers State Government is demanding a ₦300 million refund from the Nigerian Bar Association after the legal body moved its 2025 Annual General Conference from Port Harcourt to Enugu. The NBA cited constitutional breaches, while Rivers insists the relocation is politically driven and calls for integrity in refunding the funds.
The Rivers State Government has demanded a full refund of ₦300 million allegedly paid to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for the hosting rights of its 2025 Annual General Conference (AGC), following the association’s abrupt decision to move the event from Port Harcourt to Enugu.
In a strongly worded statement released on Monday, April 14, and signed by Hector Igbikiowubo, the senior special assistant on media to the state’s administration, Rivers accused the NBA of politicizing the conference relocation and failing to acknowledge the unique constitutional circumstances surrounding the current governance of the state.
The NBA announced on April 11 that it had pulled the event from Port Harcourt, citing alleged constitutional breaches due to the state's administration under a sole administrator, retired military officer Ibok-Ete Ibas. The appointment of Ibas followed a controversial declaration of a state of emergency by President Bola Tinubu in March, which led to the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and all members of the State House of Assembly.
In its response, the Rivers government defended the emergency administration as a necessary step to restore governance in the state, emphasizing that the sole administrator has committed to respecting court rulings and safeguarding citizens' rights. The statement accused the NBA of overlooking these constitutional realities while also failing to address the ₦300 million already paid by the state for the event.
“While we respect the NBA’s autonomy to determine its conference venue, it is inconsistent for the association to retain public funds while discrediting the very state that financed the hosting,” the statement read. “If the NBA is acting on principle, that principle should extend to refunding taxpayer money.”
The NBA had previously confirmed Port Harcourt as the host city for the 2025 AGC during an announcement in August 2024. No response has yet been issued by the association regarding the refund demand.
