The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has relocated its 2025 Annual General Conference, AGC, from Port Harcourt to Enugu, citing the “undemocratic developments” in Rivers State following the declaration of a state of emergency by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The decision, announced in a press statement dated 10th April 2025, followed the NBA’s National Executive Council, NEC, meeting of 27th March where the overwhelming consensus was that the association could not, in good conscience, proceed with its flagship event in a state “governed unconstitutionally by a Sole Administrator.”
The NBA said the emergency rule in Rivers State and the suspension of all elected officials, including Governor Siminalayi Fubara, amounts to “a grave constitutional subversion.”
“Currently, Rivers State is being governed by a retired military officer, appointed as a Sole Administrator, who operates with a command-style approach that disregards constitutional provisions, court decisions, and pending litigation,” the NBA said in the statement.
“His actions have undermined democratic institutions and processes, flouting the rule of law with impunity. Though clad in civilian attire, he governs as though the state is under military rule.”
The NBA maintained that hosting the AGC in Rivers State under the present condition would amount to endorsing the illegality and constitutional violations currently unfolding.
According to the NBA’s press statement, “The NEC reaffirmed that the state of emergency declared in Rivers State violates Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution. It further noted that the suspension of elected officials and democratic institutions contravenes Sections 11 and 188 of the Constitution.”
With this, the NBA announced that the 2025 AGC would now be held in the Coal City of Enugu, noting that the new venue “possesses the infrastructure and capacity to host a conference of our scale and significance.”
However, the decision did not sit well with the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), who demanded a refund of ₦300 million allegedly paid to the association for hosting rights.
“While we respect the NBA’s right to choose its conference venues, we find it curious that the association—despite its ‘principled position’—didn’t address the refund of the ₦300 million already paid by the Rivers State Government for the hosting rights of the 2025 conference,” Mr Ibas’ spokesperson, Hector Igbikiowubo, said in a statement issued on Monday.
Mr Ibas argued that if the NBA truly stood on principle, “it should demonstrate the same integrity by promptly returning these funds rather than benefiting from a state it now publicly discredits.”
He added that the state was going through a difficult democratic transition and called on the association to be more constructive rather than divisive in its approach.
But in a swift rebuttal, the NBA dismissed the refund demand as baseless, saying the ₦300 million in question was not a payment for hosting rights, but an unconditional gift.
“The attention of the Annual General Conference planning committee has been drawn to a statement credited to the Administrator of Rivers State to the effect that the Rivers State government paid hosting rights for the hosting of the NBA AGC 2025,” the statement signed by the Chairman of the Conference Planning Committee, Mr Emeka Obegolu, SAN, read.
“We wish to clarify that the decision to host the 2025 AGC in Portharcourt was taken in August 2024 and was not subject to any bidding process or payment of any hosting rights.”
It further explained that, “Traditionally, because of the enormous cost involved in hosting the AGC, the NBA Conference Planning Committee approaches organisations and agencies of government and state governments for support, and the support requested is unconditional and not tied to hosting rights or any rights whatsoever.”
The NBA stated that the funds from Rivers State were received as a gift, “not tied to any purported hosting right for the NBA AGC.”
“We are committed to delivering a world-class conference to members of the Bar and will not be drawn into any unnecessary controversy over this issue.”
As it stands, the association remains firm in its decision to host the 2025 AGC in Enugu, calling on all members and stakeholders to give their full support.
“With unity, diligence, and a shared commitment to our values, we will make this transition a resounding success,” the statement signed by NBA President Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN; General Secretary Dr Mobolaji Ojibara; and AGCPC Chair Emeka Obegolu, SAN, concluded.
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