{"id":21957,"date":"2025-04-15T12:21:14","date_gmt":"2025-04-15T12:21:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/21957\/"},"modified":"2025-04-15T12:21:14","modified_gmt":"2025-04-15T12:21:14","slug":"ibas-accuses-nba-of-double-standard-asks-for-n300-million-refund-to-rivers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/21957\/","title":{"rendered":"Ibas accuses NBA of double-standard, asks for N300 million refund to Rivers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rivers State Administrator Ibok-Ete<\/a><\/strong> Ibas has asked the Nigerian Bar Association<\/a><\/strong> (NBA) to refund the N300 million the Rivers State Government paid to the association for hosting the 2025 NBA Annual General Conference.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile we respect the NBA\u2019s right to choose its conference venues, we find it curious that the association\u2014despite its \u2018principled position\u2019\u2014 didn\u2019t address the refund of the N300 million already paid by the Rivers State Government for the hosting rights of the 2025 conference,\u201d Mr Ibas spokesperson, Hector Igbikiowubo, said in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES on Monday.<\/p>\n

The NBA had berated President Bola Tinubu for declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspending all elected officials, including Governor Siminalayi Fubara.<\/p>\n

The association said Mr Tinubu violates Section 305 of the Nigerian Constitution, stressing that the president lacks the power to remove Governor Siminalayi Fubara.<\/p>\n

Last week, the NBA doubled down on its criticism of Mr Tinubu. It moved its 2025 conference, earlier scheduled for Port Harcourt, to Enugu in Enugu State in protest against the emergency rule.<\/p>\n

The NBA said that hosting the conference in Port Harcourt would amount to endorsing illegality.<\/p>\n

\u201cCurrently, Rivers State is being governed by a retired military officer, appointed as a sole administrator, who operates within a command-style approach that disregards constitutional provisions, court decisions, and pending litigations.<\/p>\n

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\u201cHis 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,\u201d the NBA said.<\/p>\n

Refund Rivers N300 million \u2013 Ibas slams NBA<\/strong><\/p>\n

In his first reaction after the NBA moved the conference from Port Harcourt to Enugu, Mr Ibas asked the association to refund the N300 million the state government paid to the NBA for \u201chosting rights.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf the NBA truly stands on principle, it should demonstrate the same integrity by promptly returning these funds rather than benefiting from a state it now publicly discredits.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mr Ibas said the oil-rich state was passing through a challenging phase in its democratic journey and appealed to the NBA to engage constructively, offering solutions instead of amplifying divisive narratives.<\/p>\n

Supports not condition for conference hosting<\/strong><\/p>\n

The NBA President, Afam Osigwe, did not respond to calls and text messages requesting comments from our reporter.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Another lawyer familiar with the conference admitted the association received the money from the Rivers State Government but said it was not a condition for hosting the conference.<\/p>\n

The lawyer, who preferred to be anonymous because he is not permitted to speak on the matter, said other states\u2019 governments also support the NBA conference even when it is not hosted in their states.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was no such contract. Rivers State gave money to the NBA, not as a condition for hosting the conference in the state. The NBA has incurred losses due to the cancellation. Are we also going to ask Rivers State for a refund?<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve made tags and bags for the conference that are branded as Rivers 2025 which is no longer useful due to the cancellation. NBA decision to leave Rivers state is on principle,\u201d the lawyer said.<\/p>\n

The Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, whose protracted political feud with Mr Fubara contributed to the declaration of the emergency rule, earlier said NBA was against President Tinubu\u2019s action because Rivers State Government promised to host the 2025 conference.<\/p>\n

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READ ALSO:\u00a0Enugu govt speaks on relocation of NBA conference from Rivers<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The NBA has maintained that its decision is based on \u201cprinciple\u201d and that hosting the conference in the state would amount to an endorsement of \u201cillegality.\u201d<\/p>\n

Besides the NBA, other Nigerians, including human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, founder of Albinism Foundation, Jake Epelle, and former governor of the state, Ada George have criticised Mr Tinubu for the emergency rule in Rivers.<\/p>\n

Mr George also criticised Mr Ibas for dissolving government agencies and appointing sole administrators for the state\u2019s 23 local government areas.<\/p>\n

For his part, Mr Epelle said it looks like Mr Fubara has been removed, not suspended, by President Tinubu.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe administrator was sent to make regulations, not appointments,\u201d Mr Epelle said, describing the emergency rule and appointment of sole administrator for the state as \u201cillegal.\u201d<\/p>\n

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