The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has clarified that the N300 million received from the Rivers State government for its 2025 Annual General Conference (AGC) was a goodwill donation, not a payment for hosting rights.
According to a statement on Monday, Chairman of the AGC planning committee, Emeka Obegolu, emphasised that the NBA does not engage in the sale of hosting rights for its conferences.
This clarification follows a demand from the Rivers State Government, led by Sole Administrator Ibok-Ete Ibas for the NBA to return the funds.
The dispute arose after the NBA announced it was relocating the 2025 AGC from Port Harcourt to Enugu, citing constitutional breaches in Rivers State after President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency there in March.
Responding to the state’s request, the NBA stressed that Rivers was named as the host before any financial contributions were made, and there was no formal bidding process involved.
The association added that it typically seeks voluntary, no-strings-attached financial support from individuals and State Governments to help manage the substantial costs associated with hosting the AGC.
The NBA’s statement read “The attention of the Annual General Conference planning committee has been drawn to a statement credited to the Administrator of Rivers state to the effect that Rivers state government and paid hosting rights for the hosting of the NBA AGC 2025.
“We wish to clarify that the decision to host the 2025 AGC in Portharcourt was taken in August 2024 and was not subject of any bidding process or payment of any hosting rights. 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.
“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.”
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