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The Rivers State Government dey vex well well with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and don threaten to carry them go court if dem no return their N300 million sharp sharp. This wahala start after NBA decide say dem no go do their 2025 Annual General Conference for Port Harcourt again, say dem wan do am for Enugu State.
According to Rivers State Government, the N300 million wey dem give NBA no be just anyhow gift. Dem say dem give am with clear understanding say Port Harcourt go host the big conference for 2025.
This information come out for statement wey Hector Igbikiowubo, the media man for the State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), release on Tuesday for Port Harcourt.
The state government say NBA dey lie when dem say the N300 million na just "gift" and e no concern who go host the conference.
The statement make am clear say dem transfer the money because both sides agree say Rivers State go be the place wey NBA go do their important yearly meeting.
The statement say, "Make we clear am, the records for Rivers State Government show say we pay NBA N300 million because we both understand say Rivers State go host the 2025 edition of the NBA AGC."
"Rivers State Government enter this agreement with NBA with good heart, because we know say if dem do the conference for our state, e go bring plenty business and help our people make money."
The government dey angry say NBA just change their mind anyhow to carry the conference go another place, say na betrayal of trust.
Dem say if the association no return the N300 million immediately, the state go find legal way to collect their money back, because dem say na "property of the good people of Rivers State."
The statement add, "We still ready to work with all professional groups, including NBA, but we no go allow anybody to use our people and Rivers State Government anyhow."
On Monday, NBA talk say the Sole Administrator dey lie, say the N300 million na just goodwill donation and e no tie to any agreement about hosting.
The Chairman of the 2025 AGC Planning Committee, Emeka Obegolu (SAN), say NBA get right to change venue and dem no need to return the money.
NBA say the recent political problem for Rivers State make dem change venue.
Some of the reasons dem give include the emergency rule wey Federal Government put, and how dem suspend Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and members of the state House of Assembly for six months.
The NBA President, Afam Osigwe (SAN), criticize how things dey go for Rivers, say e no follow constitution and e be like military rule under the Sole Administrator.
Osigwe say, "Even though the administrator wear civilian clothes, e dey rule like say the state dey under military." E say that kind thing dey spoil democracy and rule of law.
But the Sole Administrator say NBA dey put politics inside the Rivers State matter and dem no even acknowledge the constitutional process wey lead to the emergency declaration.
Ibas say NBA dey two-faced because dem carry the AGC go another place but dem no want return the N300 million wey dem collect.
Ibas say, "If NBA really stand on principle, dem suppose show that same honesty by returning this money quick quick instead of benefiting from a state wey dem dey talk bad about for public."