The Rivers State Government has threatened to sue the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to reclaim ₦300 million following the NBA’s decision to move its Annual General Conference from Port Harcourt to Enugu State.
The state government asserted that the funds were not a donation but part of an agreement to make Port Harcourt the host city.
This position was outlined in a statement released in Port Harcourt on Tuesday by Hector Igbikiowubo, the media aide to the State Sole Administrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.).
The state government firmly rejected the NBA’s recent claim that the ₦300 million payment was a “gift” and not tied to hosting rights for the NBA AGC 2025.
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The statement partly reads, “For clarity, the Rivers State Government’s records show that the payment of N300 million to the NBA was made with the mutual understanding that Rivers State would host the 2025 edition of the NBA AGC.
“The Rivers State Government entered into this arrangement with the NBA in good faith, with the understanding that hosting the conference in the state would attract significant economic benefits to our state, positively and directly impact the businesses of our people.
“The NBA’s unilateral decision to relocate the AGC 2025 against our mutual understanding and subsequent decision to withhold the N300 million paid for the purpose of hosting the NBA AGC 2025 in Rivers State is unethical and amounts to a breach of trust.”
The statement warned that if the NBA fails to promptly refund the ₦300 million to the Rivers State Government, all legal avenues will be pursued to recover the funds belonging to the people of Rivers State.
“Failure of the NBA to immediately refund the ₦300 million to the Rivers State Government will compel the implementation of all legal means to recover the property of the good people of Rivers State.
“We reaffirm our willingness to engage in partnerships with all professional bodies, including the NBA, but we will not accommodate exploitation of our people and the Rivers State Government,” the statement added.
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