Rivers’ N300M is a prize, not a hosting fee, NBA clarifies

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has clarified that the N300 million received from the Rivers state government is a prize that cannot be returned, not payment for hosting rights related to the Annual General Conference (AGC).

This clarification came in response to the request of the Rivers state government to return money from that amount, following the NBA decision to move AGC 2025 to the state of Enugu due to an emergency stated in the river.

Emeka Obegolu, San, Chair of the AGC 2025 NBA Planning Committee, stated, “The attention of the Annual General Conference Planning Committee has been interested in the statement credited to the Rivers state administrator on the effect that the Rivers state government pays hosting rights for the host of the NBA AGC 2025.

“We want to clarify that the decision to host AGC 2025 on Port Harcourt was taken in August 2024 and not subject to the process of bid or payment of any hosting rights. The host city did not have hosting rights and there were no representatives by the NBA that the conference had to be held in the selected city.”

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Obegolu explained that traditional practices seek support for AGC, saying, “Traditionally, because the large costs involved in hosting AGC, the NBA Conference Planning Committee approaches the organization, government institutions and state governments for the support and support requested are not conditional and not related to the rights of the host or any rights.

“The new NBA Conference has been supported by various state governments, company organizations, ministries, departments and institutions whose budget accommodates corporate social responsibility and sharing the same vision as NBA. Such financial support is in the form of prizes, partnerships or sponsors.

The statement emphasized the commitment of the NBA to give a successful conference, adding, “We are committed to giving world -class conferences to bar members and will not be withdrawn into unnecessary controversy for this problem.”

This follows the previous NBA declaration that the action of a single administrator of the state of Rivers, representatives of the Ibok-eet Iba (Retd.), Damaged the institution and democratic process, quoting its neglect of the ongoing constitutional and litigation provisions.

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