The Administrator of Rivers State, Ibok-Ete Ibas, has refuted claims by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) suggesting that a ?300 million payment made to the association was a mere ?gift? and not tied to the hosting rights for the NBA?s 2025 Annual General Conference (AGC).

Reacting to the NBA?s announcement of the relocation of the 2025 conference from Port Harcourt to Enugu, the Administrator described the association?s position as ?unethical? and ?a breach of trust.?

In a statement issued on Tuesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Hector Igbikiowubo, the Administrator clarified that the payment was made under a clear mutual understanding that Rivers State would host the NBA?s flagship event.

?The Rivers State Government entered into this arrangement with the NBA in good faith, with the understanding that hosting the conference would attract significant economic benefits to our state and directly impact the businesses of our people,? the statement read.

He expressed dismay over what he called the NBA?s ?unilateral? decision to move the event, warning that failure to refund the ?300 million would leave the state with no choice but to initiate legal action to recover the funds.

?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 concluded.

He urged the NBA to act swiftly to resolve the matter and avoid unnecessary legal confrontation.

Read Full Statement Below:

Press Release

RIVERS STATE GOVERNMENT REJOINDER ON RELOCATION OF NBA AGC 2025.

Port Harcourt ? The Rivers State Government has noted the statement by the NBA on the relocation the 2025 Annual General Conference (AGC) from Port Harcourt, Rivers State to Enugu State.

The Rivers State Government, however, outrightly rejects the NBA?s recent allegation that the ?300 million payment made by the state was a ?gift?, unrelated to hosting rights for the NBA AGC 2025. For clarity, the Rivers State Government?s records show that the payment of ?300 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 ?300 million paid for the purpose of hosting the NBA AGC 2025 in Rivers State is unethical and amounts to a breach of trust.

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.

Signed:

Hector Igbikiowubo

SSA Media

Rivers State Government

Government House, Port Harcourt

15th April 2025

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