The Nigerian Bar Association has said it cannot refund the money suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, gave it towards its upcoming conference.
The body has moved the venue to Enugu State in protest against the emergency rule declared in the state by President Bola Tinubu, following protracted crises among top players,. including Siminalayi and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.
Irked by the shift, Rivers Administrator had earlier on Monday demanded a refund of the money, which he called payment for hosting right.
But the NBA later said the N300 million it received from Rivers State was a gift and not payment for hosting rights to its annual general conference (AGC).
In a statement by its AGC 2025 Planning Committee Chair Emeka Obegolu (SAN), it said: “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 Rivers state government paid hosting rights for the hosting of the NBA AGC 2025.
“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.
“The host city has no hosting right and there is no representation by the NBA that the Conference must be held in a chosen city.
“Recent NBA conferences have been supported by different state governments, corporate organizations, ministries, departments and agencies whose budgets accommodate corporate social responsibilities and share the same vision with NBA.
“Such financial support is in the form of gifts, partnerships or sponsorships. The money from Rivers State was a gift and was not tied to any purported hosting right for the NBA AGC.
