Rivers State Slams NBA with N300m Refund Request Over Conference Move

The Rivers State Government has formally requested a refund of N300 million from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), following the legal body’s controversial decision to relocate its 2025 Annual General Conference (AGC) from Port Harcourt to Enugu.

In a statement released Monday, the state government criticized the NBA’s decision, calling it “politically charged” and “constitutionally shallow,” while insisting the refund is a matter of principle if the association truly stands for justice and integrity.

The NBA announced last Friday that it would no longer host its flagship annual conference in Rivers, citing what it described as “constitutional violations” in the state. According to the association, the imposition of emergency rules and governance by a sole administrator raised serious concerns about the rule of law.

“Rivers State is currently being governed by a retired military officer… who operates with a command-style approach that disregards constitutional provisions,” the NBA said in a statement.

The move follows the declaration of a state of emergency by President Bola Tinubu in March, triggered by an ongoing political crisis in the oil-rich state. The president suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and the entire House of Assembly, appointing retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as sole administrator.

Reacting to the NBA’s decision, the Rivers government argued that the association has failed to fully grasp the constitutional legitimacy of the current administration.

“The emergency rule was a necessary response to a collapse of public order,” said Hector Igbikiowubo, Senior Special Assistant on Media to the state government. “The sole administrator remains committed to restoring democratic institutions and respecting the rule of law.”

The statement also criticized the NBA for not addressing the N300 million the state had already disbursed to secure hosting rights for the 2025 AGC.

“If the NBA truly believes in the principles it preaches, it should demonstrate that integrity by refunding the money. One cannot collect funds from a state and then discredit it publicly,” Igbikiowubo added.

The decision to originally host the 2025 conference in Port Harcourt was made in August 2024 by NBA President Afam Osigwe. The event was expected to draw thousands of lawyers, judges, and legal scholars from across Nigeria and beyond, offering a major economic and reputational boost to the host city.

Now, with the conference relocated and political tensions still simmering in Rivers, the controversy has raised broader questions about the intersection of law, politics, and governance in Nigeria.