The Rivers State Government has threatened legal action to recover the sum of ₦300 million paid to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) following the association’s decision to relocate its 2025 Annual General Conference (AGC) from Port Harcourt to Enugu.
The Administrator of Rivers State, Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), strongly rejected claims by the NBA that the ₦300 million was a “gift” and not tied to hosting rights for the legal body’s flagship event. In a statement released on Tuesday, the state government described the NBA’s position as not only “unethical” but also “a breach of trust.”
The reaction followed a public announcement by the NBA that it had decided to move its 2025 conference to Enugu State, citing undisclosed reasons. However, the Rivers government insists that the funds it paid to the NBA were made with a clear and mutual agreement that Port Harcourt would serve as host city for the high-profile event.
The statement, signed by Hector Igbikiowubo, Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Rivers State Administrator, stated that the payment was not arbitrary, but made in line with a shared understanding with NBA leadership. According to the government, the hosting of the NBA AGC was expected to bring major economic and social benefits to Rivers State, especially to small and medium businesses.
“The Rivers State Government entered into this arrangement with the NBA in good faith,” the statement read. “We believed hosting the conference would attract significant economic benefits to our state and directly impact the businesses of our people.”
The government noted that the unilateral decision by the NBA to move the event elsewhere without refunding the ₦300 million amounted to a breach of agreement and betrayal of trust.
“The NBA’s unilateral decision to relocate the AGC 2025 against our mutual understanding and the subsequent decision to withhold the ₦300 million paid for the purpose of hosting is unethical,” the statement added. “Failure to refund the ₦300 million will compel us to use all legal means to recover the funds, which rightfully belong to the people of Rivers State.”
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian Bar Association has not released any formal reply to the threat of legal action. Efforts to reach NBA officials for comments were unsuccessful. However, earlier media reports had quoted unnamed NBA insiders as describing the ₦300 million as a donation or goodwill gesture, and not necessarily payment tied to any legal or contractual agreement.
This claim has been firmly denied by the Rivers State Government, which insists that the funds were allocated specifically to support the planning and execution of the NBA’s 2025 AGC in Port Harcourt.
The NBA Annual General Conference is one of the most prominent professional gatherings in Nigeria. Attracting thousands of legal practitioners, government officials, academics, and business leaders from across the country and abroad, the AGC offers opportunities for networking, policy discussions, and professional development.
Beyond its professional importance, the AGC also brings major financial benefits to host cities. Hotels, transportation services, food vendors, artisans, and tourism operators all typically see a surge in business during the weeklong event.
Hosting rights are, therefore, highly competitive. States often lobby and offer financial or logistical support to the NBA in hopes of securing the event. According to analysts, the AGC injects billions of naira into host economies.
It is for this reason that the Rivers State Government says it feels betrayed by the NBA’s decision to move the event after accepting financial support from the state.
The controversy comes at a sensitive time in Rivers State politics. The state has been facing political tension in recent months following disagreements within the local ruling party and the leadership structure under the Administrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas, who was appointed to stabilize the government during a recent crisis.
Observers believe that Rivers’ interest in hosting the NBA conference may have also been part of efforts to project political stability, attract investment, and present the state in a positive light.
However, the NBA’s sudden change of plans could now be seen as a blow to those efforts, particularly if not resolved amicably.
Legal and civil society stakeholders have begun reacting to the standoff between the state and the legal association. While some have urged caution and diplomacy, others argue that public funds must be accounted for.
“The Rivers State Government has every right to seek legal redress if it believes there was a breach of agreement,” said Barrister Adaobi Ijeoma, a Port Harcourt-based lawyer. “If there was indeed a mutual understanding that the ₦300 million was tied to hosting the event, then the NBA should do the honourable thing and refund the money.”
Another analyst, Dr. Charles Ekong, a political economist, noted that this situation reflects a deeper issue in how public money is managed and partnerships are negotiated.
“Governments need to ensure that such arrangements are documented formally to avoid controversies like this,” he said. “On the other hand, the NBA also has a responsibility to be transparent in its dealings, especially with taxpayer funds.”
Despite the strong words in its statement, the Rivers State Government has not ruled out peaceful resolution. It reaffirmed its willingness to continue partnering with professional bodies like the NBA but emphasized that it will not tolerate what it described as exploitation.
“We remain open to working with the NBA and other professional groups,” the statement concluded. “However, the good people of Rivers State must not be taken for granted.”
