NBA denies selling hosting right for conference to Rivers, says N300m a gift

NBA denies selling hosting right for conference to Rivers, says N300m a gift

The Nigerian Bar Association NBA Denies Selling Hosting Right that it sold the Rivers State Government the right to hold its 2025 Annual General Conference (AGC), asserting that the ₦300 million it got from the state was a contribution rather than a payment associated with any contract.

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 The NBA revealed this information in a statement on Monday through Emeka Obegolu, the chairman of the 2025 NBA AGC Planning Committee.

This explanation comes after the Rivers State Government made a public claim that it had paid the NBA to get the conference’s hosting rights, which were then rescheduled from Port Harcourt to Enugu.

In response, Obegolu stated that the state’s financial contribution was a gift rather than a sale and that no such rights were sold.

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Obegolu claims that the choice to host the 2025 AGC in Port Harcourt was made in August 2024 and was not decided via a bidding procedure.

The NBA Conference Planning Committee approaches organizations, government agencies, and state governments for support due to the high cost of hosting the AGC, according to Obegolu. The support is unconditional and unrelated to hosting rights or any other rights.

Obegolu said that the money from Rivers State was a goodwill donation to help make the event a success and was not linked to any hosting rights.

Obegolu stated that the funds from Rivers State were a gift and had nothing to do with any alleged hosting rights for the NBA AGC.

However, he reassured the public and NBA members that the organizing committee is still committed to providing a top-notch conference and won’t be sidetracked by what he called “unnecessary controversy.”

After the NBA decided to move the 2025 AGC from Port Harcourt to Enugu, the Rivers State Government wanted a return of ₦300 million.

NBA Denies Selling Hosting Right

Hector Igbikiowubo, the state’s spokesperson to the Sole Administrator, maintained that the funds were paid for the hosting rights and that they now need to be reimbursed as the state will no longer host the conference.

Igbikiowubo stated, “The NBA must return the money it received in good faith because it has renounced its contractual and moral commitment.”

The demand was made just days after the NBA justified the venue move by pointing to “unconstitutional governance” and a collapse of democratic institutions in Rivers.

The legal organization contended that it would be against its principles to host its main annual event under emergency rule.

However, the Rivers Government dismissed the explanation, claiming it was polit

ically driven and deceptive.