Legal Battle Brewing: NBA Rejects Rivers Govt’s Demand For ₦300 Million Refund

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has firmly stated that it cannot refund the ₦300 million contributed by former Governor Siminalayi Fubara to support the hosting of its 2025 Annual General Conference (AGC) originally planned for Rivers State.

This comes after Rivers State’s Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (rtd), demanded a refund following the NBA’s cancellation of the event in the state.

The NBA withdrew from hosting the 2025 AGC in Rivers State in protest against President Bola Tinubu’s suspension of Governor Fubara and the subsequent appointment of Ibas as Sole Administrator.

A report from the NBA’s National Executive Council meeting in Ilorin revealed that the ₦300 million donation by Fubara was not made to secure the hosting rights of the AGC, which was later relocated.

NBA President Afam Osigwe emphasized that the association cannot support what it views as an unconstitutional action by the President through hosting the conference in Port Harcourt.

“The consultations showed that most lawyers strongly preferred relocating the conference from Rivers State. The majority felt the event should not be held in a state under a Sole Administrator,” the statement read.

“The NBA does not recognize the unconstitutional suspension of a democratically elected government or the appointment of a Sole Administrator, making it improper to seek venue or logistical support from such an administrator.”

According to Daily Independent, the NBA’s report further stated that there is no valid basis for refunding the ₦300 million from Governor Fubara.

The report added, “Due to ongoing protests and demands from lawyers, holding the 2025 AGC in Port Harcourt is unjustifiable. We cannot request a refund of the ₦300 million paid for conference hosting rights because of our physical presence and possible collaboration in the city. This also underscores the unconstitutional declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State and the appointment of a Sole Administrator.”

The NBA reaffirmed its position that the appointment of the administrator is unconstitutional and, in line with this, announced the relocation of the conference to Enugu, known as the coal city.