Ibas Refutes Allegations: Adeyanju Sets The Record Straight On Rivers ₦300 Million Payment

In a statement responding to the backlash over the NBA’s decision to move the 2025 AGC from Port Harcourt to Enugu, Adeyanju refuted claims that unmet financial obligations influenced the relocation. He emphasized that the choice of venue was driven by factors such as infrastructure, logistics, and security, rather than any financial donations or political motivations.

Adeyanju explained, “The ₦300 million was contributed under a constitutionally elected government, and the NBA will not lend legitimacy to what I consider an unconstitutional governance model in Rivers State.”

He also addressed the criticisms regarding the concept of hosting rights, stating that Ibas’ claims had no basis in NBA tradition. Adeyanju further clarified that the NBA does not have a formal bidding or contractual process for awarding the hosting rights of its AGC, highlighting that no state can gain the right to host the AGC through financial contributions.

Using the 2023 AGC in Abuja as an example, which was not funded by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), he reinforced that the idea of selling hosting rights undermines the integrity of the legal profession.

He concluded by noting that the relocation of the AGC was necessary to avoid endorsing what many in the legal community view as unconstitutional governance in Rivers State. “This is not a rejection of the people of Rivers or their lawyers—they remain our colleagues. But as defenders of the Constitution, we must stand firm against unconstitutional governance,” Adeyanju said.