…association keeps mum on calls to return Rivers N300m grant

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has defended its decision to move its 2025 Annual Conference from Rivers State to Enugu, citing the conduct of the state’s Administrator, Vice-Admiral Ibok Ibas (retd), as a key reason for the relocation.

In a statement jointly signed by the chairmen of its eight branches in Rivers, the NBA said the current political climate in the state no longer aligns with the values and expectations of the legal community.

However, the association did not respond to growing calls for the return of the N300 million allegedly received from the Rivers State Government for hosting the event in Port Harcourt.

The NBA also criticized what it described as the failure of promised peace-building efforts by the President to restore democratic governance in the state, stating that such efforts had yet to materialise.

The statement said: “Rather than the peace-building efforts that was promised by the President, tension has steadily escalated in Rivers State, arbitrariness and impunity have been displayed on a daily basis and democratic institutions have been demobilized in a gestapo, military style

“Political appointments are being made by the Sole Administrator, Vice-Admiral Ibok Ete-Ibas with military fiat, without approval being sought from the National Assembly or any known legal institution for that matter.

“In all of these happenings, there has been no sign or any word from the so-called Peace or Reconciliation Committee supposedly set up to resolve the political impasse. It has gradually become clear that the leadership of our state has been hijacked to serve specific interests, without due regard for the peace and stability of the state, the economy of the state or the nation for that matter, and the well-being of the people of Rivers State.”

The NBA said its understanding was that the intendment of the declaration of the state of emergency by the President and his appointment of the Sole Administrator, was for the maintenance of the peace and security in the state; to secure the pipelines and related facilities from being blown up and to prevent attacks on them that would sabotage the overall economic interest of the Country.

But it insisted that the Sole Administrator had overstepped his bounds by dissolving and reconstituting established democratic institutions of the state such as boards, agencies, councils, commissions and parastatals among others.

NBA said: ” The mandate of the Sole Administrator in our view also does not extend to the preparation or presentation of any budget, especially for infrastructural development in the state; and certainly does not cover for the appointment of administrators for the 23 local government areas in the state, in further violation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Judgments of the Courts that Local Government Councils cannot be headed by appointed administrators but by duly elected chairmen.

“The release of the State’s allocation by the Federal Government to the Sole Administrator upon his assumption of office, against the decision in the Supreme Court Judgment of 28th February, 2025 and without a proper Appropriation Bill passed and signed into law, or the election of Local Government Chairmen, which were the accusations levelled against the suspended State Governor, is baffling and points clearly to a selective implementation of the said Judgment of the Supreme Court by the Federal Government.

The cumulative effect of the above actions of the Sole Administrator,are clearly at variance with the Rule of Law and are capable of causing a breakdown of law and order in Rivers State as tensions escalate,uncertainty pervades the air and members of the society feel compelled to react to the situation and voice their displeasures.

“The actions of the Sole Administrator have also become one of the reasons for the unfortunate relocation of the venue of the Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association from Rivers State to Enugu State,leading to an immeasurable colossal loss to businesses in Rivers State,especially the hospitality Industry,and loss of job opportunities for the period.The conference was expected to cater for up to 30,000 lawyers,thereby boosting the economy of the State,but has now been sadly impacted by fallouts from the declared State of Emergency”.

The NBA called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the leadership of the National Assembly to rein-in the Sole Administrator and ensure he kept within the mandate given to him on his appointment to save River from further crisis.

“We also urge the Presidency to do everything within its power,in line with the Rule of Law,to ensure the return of full democratic governance to the State on or before the 6(Six)months tenure of the Sole Administrator.

“We call on the Peace or Reconciliation Committee of the National Assembly to swing into action and dispassionately carry out its role of reconciliation and peace-building in Rivers State to avoid further economic losses and degeneration of the political crisis and escalation of tension in the State”, NBA said.

The NBA said it empathised with the business owners affected by “the unfortunate relocation of the NBA Annual General Conference from Rivers to Enugu and urged them to remain law abiding and continue to seek legal means of redress in resolution of disputes.

Those who signed the statement are

Cordelia U.Eke, Chairman, Port Harcourt Branch; Dr. Hilda Desmond-lhekaire,

Chairman Ahoada Branch; Simple Dioha,

Chairman, Isiokpo Branch; Abiye A.Abo,

Chairman, Degema Branch;Dr.N.A.Duson,

Chairman, Bori Branch; Dr.C.N,Nwankwo

Chairman,Okehi Branch, Tampons A.Roberts, Chairman,Okrika Branch and

Ekeledinichukwu Ordu, Chairman,Omoku Branch.

(The Nation)