Prominent human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, has called on the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to immediately refund the sum of ₦300 million it received from the Rivers State Government as support for its 2025 Annual General Conference (AGC).
In a strongly worded statement issued on Tuesday, Adegboruwa expressed shock and disappointment over the financial transaction between the NBA and the Rivers State Government. He described the payment as improper, especially given the difficult economic conditions in the country and the NBA’s critical role as the conscience of the nation.
“I read with utter shock and disbelief the story of ₦300 million given to the Nigerian Bar Association by the Rivers State Government as part of support for the Annual General Conference,” he wrote.
Adegboruwa highlighted that the NBA should have no reason to seek or accept financial assistance from any government, especially when its members pay mandatory annual practicing fees and additional charges to attend conferences.
“All lawyers in Nigeria pay their practicing fees annually,” he noted. “Money is also charged for lawyers who wish to attend the conference. So there is no basis for NBA going cap in hand to beg for money to host a conference.”
The senior lawyer warned that accepting such funds compromises the independence of the association and erodes public confidence in its objectivity.
“Lawyers are the conscience of the society, who are expected to champion the rule of law. Such an organization should not be seen to be romancing with any government, especially in the face of suffering by the masses due to wicked economic policies and human rights abuses by the government,” he said.
“After all, he who pays the piper dictates the tune,” he added.
Adegboruwa, who is widely respected for his advocacy and public interest litigation, stated clearly that the NBA has no justification for keeping the ₦300 million. He urged the association to return the money without delay.
“We have no basis retaining the ‘gift’ from Rivers State, so NBA should refund the money immediately. We should not hide under any semantics or bureaucracy to retain the money,” he declared.
He proposed that the money be paid into an escrow account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) until proper democratic governance is restored in Rivers State.
“NBA is not a bank,” he said. “We should not be holding such public funds when people are suffering, and when our moral credibility is at stake.”
The senior advocate appealed to the elders of the legal profession, especially those within the inner circle of the Bar, to act swiftly to redeem the integrity of the association.
“I urge the elders of the Bar to intervene urgently to take away this collective shame,” he said.
He further suggested that if the money had already been spent, all Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) and other senior lawyers should contribute ₦1 million each to raise the funds and return it to the people of Rivers State.
“If the money has been spent, I urge all SANs and senior lawyers to contribute ₦1 million each in order to raise the money,” he said. “We can’t be fighting for justice on one hand and benefiting from questionable generosity on the other.”
The issue began after the Rivers State Government, led by Administrator Ibok-Ete Ibas, accused the NBA of breach of agreement when it relocated its 2025 Annual General Conference from Port Harcourt to Enugu.
The Rivers Government claimed that it had paid ₦300 million to the NBA under a clear understanding that Port Harcourt would host the high-profile legal gathering. The NBA, however, reportedly described the funds as a “gift,” which sparked outrage among legal professionals and members of the public.
In response, the Rivers Government demanded a full refund and threatened legal action if the money was not returned.
The NBA has yet to release a detailed public response to either the Rivers State Government’s accusations or Adegboruwa’s latest statement.
Adegboruwa’s criticism touches on a wider issue that has long been debated in professional circles — the question of funding and independence of professional bodies in Nigeria.
Many have argued that accepting donations from governments or political figures compromises the ability of organizations like the NBA to speak out freely on issues of national importance. Some fear that financial dependence weakens the moral authority of such bodies, especially when human rights violations or abuse of power are involved.
“We cannot be funded by the same governments we should be holding accountable,” said Barrister Ngozi Okafor, a lawyer and civil rights activist based in Abuja. “It creates a conflict of interest that is hard to defend.”
Several other legal practitioners have since echoed Adegboruwa’s sentiments online and in legal forums. Many described the acceptance of the ₦300 million as inappropriate and said the NBA must take steps to rebuild public trust.
“The NBA is not a political tool. It is a professional body that must be independent and free of government influence,” said Barrister Ibrahim Aliyu, a Kano-based lawyer. “Adegboruwa has spoken the mind of many of us.”
Some lawyers have already begun advocating for stricter internal rules within the NBA to regulate donations, especially from government sources.
In his concluding remarks, Adegboruwa advised the NBA to adopt a more transparent and independent approach to raising funds in the future.
“Going forward, NBA should tread cautiously in raising funds from all manner of persons and institutions,” he wrote. “Lawyers in Nigeria are well endowed to fund any programme for the NBA.”
He highlighted that the NBA must remain a voice for justice, not a beneficiary of questionable government largesse.
