Rivers govt threatens to sue NBA over N300m ‘gift’

The Rivers State Government has threatened legal action against the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) over a claim that a N300 million payment made to the association was a mere “gift”.

The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Ibok-Ete Ibas, made this known in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Hector Igbikiowubo, on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.

Ibas noted that N300 million paid to the NBA was for the hosting rights of the association’s 2025 Annual General Conference (AGC).

The NBA had announced the relocation of the conference from Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, to Enugu State, and described the payment as a “gift”.

The NBA said the conference was moved to Enugu State over the emergency rule in Rivers State, adding that the money was not the payment for the conference’s hosting rights.

Ibas, however, described the association’s position as “unethical” and “a breach of trust”, saying the payment was made under a clear mutual understanding that Rivers State would host the NBA’s conference.

The administrator also asked the NBA to refund the N300 million paid for the hosting rights of the association’s conference.

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He stated: “For clarity, the Rivers State Government’s records show that the payment of N300 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 N300 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 N300 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.”

The Star