By John Umeh
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NBA States Rivers’ N300m Donation Was a Gift, Not a Hosting Payment
The Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), has demanded that the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) refund the N300 million paid for hosting rights of the 2025 Annual General Conference (AGC). This request follows the NBA’s decision to relocate the conference from Port Harcourt to Enugu due to concerns over the current administrative structure in Rivers State.
In response, the NBA has clarified that the N300 million received from the Rivers State Government was an unconditional gift, not a payment for hosting rights. The NBA emphasized that it does not sell hosting rights for its conferences, and such financial contributions are typically treated as sponsorships or partnerships.
The disagreement highlights tensions between the Rivers State administration and the NBA regarding the relocation of the AGC and the financial contributions associated with the event.
