The Rivers State government has announced plans to take legal action against the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) over a N300 million payment, which the state claims was made for the right to host the 2025 Annual General Conference.
This comes after the NBA described the money as a “gift” instead of a hosting fee.
The disagreement began after the NBA decided to relocate its upcoming conference from Port Harcourt to Enugu, citing political tension in Rivers State.
President Bola Tinubu had earlier declared a state of emergency in the state due to ongoing political unrest.
As part of that move, the president suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and members of the state house of assembly for six months.
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Tinubu also appointed Ibok-Ete Ibas, a retired naval officer, as the sole administrator of the state.
The Rivers government, now led by Ibas, said the N300 million paid to the NBA was not a donation but a fee for securing the rights to host the event.
The state said the NBA’s decision to move the conference elsewhere should come with a full refund.
A statement from the government warned that legal steps would be taken if the money is not returned.
The NBA, however, maintained that it did not sell hosting rights to Rivers State and insists that the money was a gesture of goodwill.
The group has not indicated any plan to return the funds.
