The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has clarified that the ₦300 million it received from the Rivers State Government was a voluntary donation, not payment for any hosting rights related to its 2025 Annual General Conference.
In a statement issued by the Chairman of the 2025 NBA Conference Planning Committee, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Emeka Obegolu, the association explained that the decision to hold the conference in Port Harcourt was made as early as August 2024, and was not based on any bidding process or financial commitment from the state.
Obegolu was responding to claims made by the Rivers State Government, suggesting that the ₦300 million was paid in exchange for the hosting rights of the 2025 NBA Conference, which was initially scheduled to take place in the state capital.
The NBA clarified that due to the high cost of organizing the annual conference, the Planning Committee routinely seeks financial support from organizations, government agencies, and state governments. However, such contributions, including the one from Rivers State, are unconditional and not linked to any rights or guarantees regarding hosting the event.
The association emphasized that donations do not entitle any city to hosting privileges, and the NBA does not make any formal commitments to hold its conference in a particular location based on financial contributions.
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Meanwhile, the Enugu State Government has expressed its readiness to host the 2025 NBA Annual General Conference. Chairperson of the Enugu State Tourism Board, Rita Mbah, told reporters that the state is fully prepared to provide a “memorable and seamless experience” for delegates. She added that the newly commissioned Enugu International Conference Centre has been designated as the venue for the event.
Parallel Facts had earlier reported that the NBA had moved the venue of its 2025 conference from Rivers to Enugu in protest against Bola Tinubu’s replacement of Governor Siminalayi Fubara with retired naval chief Ibok-ete Ibas on March 18, 2025.
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