Legal Firestorm: Adegboruwa Demands Urgent Refund From NBA Over Controversial ₦300M Rivers Request

Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has demanded the immediate return of ₦300 million received by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) from the Rivers State Government.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Adegboruwa strongly criticized the NBA for accepting what he described as an unjustified “gift” and insisted that the money should be refunded without delay.

In a press statement, he stressed that the NBA, regarded as the moral compass of society, must steer clear of any actions that could tarnish its credibility. He warned that the association should not resort to technicalities or red tape to justify holding on to the funds—especially at a time when many Nigerians are facing economic hardship.

“The NBA has absolutely no moral or legal grounds to keep this money. Lawyers are supposed to uphold the rule of law, and the NBA must not be seen aligning with any government while citizens are suffering,” Adegboruwa stated.

He proposed that the ₦300 million be deposited in an escrow account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) pending the return of democratic rule in Rivers State. He emphasized that the NBA is not a financial institution and should not serve as a middleman for such transactions.

“If the money has already been spent, then I urge all SANs and senior lawyers to each contribute ₦1 million to repay the amount,” he added.

Adegboruwa also expressed disbelief at the NBA’s claim of needing financial assistance for its conference. He argued that practicing lawyers already pay annual dues, and additional fees are collected from conference participants—making external funding unnecessary.

Calling the situation a “collective shame” for the legal profession, he urged senior members of the Bar to intervene quickly to preserve the association’s integrity and reputation.

The NBA’s controversial decision to relocate its 2025 Annual General Conference from Rivers State to Enugu followed recent political turbulence in the state.