Rivers State sole administrator Ibok-Etteh Ibas has called on the Nigeria Bar Association to refund the N300 million Rivers paid for the hosting rights of the 2025 Annual General Conference.
In a joint statement signed by NBA president Mazi Afam Osigwe SAN; general secretary Dr. Mobolaji Ojibara and Emeka Obegolu, the NBA said it was moving the conference to Enugu based on President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers and suspension of elected government officials.
But speaking on the development Monday sole administrator Vice Admiral Ibok-Etteh Ibas rtd said: “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.”
The NBA has yet to respond to the sole administrator’s demand.
