…says Rivers donation gift, not payment
The Annual General Conference (AGC) planning committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has denied a statement credited to the Sole Administrator of Rivers state, Vice Admiral Ibok-Etteh Ibas (Rtd) that the state government paid hosting rights for the hosting of the NBA AGC 2025.
The denial was contained in a statement released on Monday evening by the Chairman, 2025 NBA AGC Planning Committee, Emeka Obegolu, SAN.
ALSO READ: NBA changes 2025 conference venue from Port Harcourt to Enugu
According to Obegolu, the decision to host the 2025 AGC in Port-Harcourt, Rivers state was taken in August 2024 and was not subject of any bidding process or payment of any hosting rights.
He said, “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.
“Traditionally, because of the enormous cost involved in hosting the AGC, NBA Conference Planning Committee approaches organizations, agencies of government and state governments for support and the support requested for is unconditional and not tied to hosting rights or any rights whatsoever.
“Recent NBA conferences have been supported by different state governments, corporate organizations, ministries, departments and agencies whose budgets accommodate corporate social responsibilities and share the same vision with NBA.
“Such financial supports are in the form of gifts, partnerships or sponsorships. The money from Rivers State was a gift and was not tied to any purported hosting right for the NBA AGC,” Obegolu clarified in the statement and assured that his committee is committed to delivering a world class conference to members of the Bar and will not be drawn into any unnecessary controversy over this issue.
The NBA had relocated the AGF from Port-Harcourt to Enugu state citing the declaration of a state of emergency and the collapse of democratic structures in the state as reasons.
Following this development, the Rivers state sole Administrator stated that, “While we respect the NBA’s right to choose its conference venues, we find it curious that the association—despite its ‘principled position’—has not addressed the refund of the N300 million already paid by the Rivers State Government for the hosting rights of the 2025 conference.
“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.”
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