The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd.), has demanded a refund of ₦300 million from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), following the association’s recent decision to relocate its 2025 Annual General Conference from Port Harcourt to Enugu.
In a statement signed by Hector Igbikiowubo, Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Sole Administrator, Ibas criticized the NBA’s justification for moving the event despite having accepted the state’s payment for hosting rights.
> “While we respect the NBA’s right to choose its conference venues, we find it curious that the association, despite its ‘principled position,’ failed to address the refund of the ₦300 million already paid by the Rivers State Government,” the statement read.
He urged the NBA to demonstrate integrity by promptly refunding the amount, arguing that it was unethical to benefit from a state the association now publicly discredits.
The NBA had cited alleged breaches of democratic norms and the rule of law under the sole administration as part of its reasons for the relocation. However, Ibas dismissed those claims as misleading, uncharitable, and unbecoming of a legal body that prides itself on fairness and justice.
Defending the legality of his administration, Ibas stated that the state of emergency declared in Rivers was a constitutional necessity, responding to a breakdown of public order. He emphasized that President Tinubu acted within his constitutional authority by appointing a Sole Administrator to stabilize the state.
> “The Sole Administrator’s mandate is clear: to oversee a transitional period that ensures the return of full democratic governance,” Ibas said, referencing the Supreme Court ruling in Suit No. SC/CV/1176/2024 which invalidated elections held in violation of the Electoral Act.
He added that the NBA’s position ignores judicial precedent and oversimplifies a complex constitutional issue for political gain.
> “Rather than contributing to unnecessary tension, we expect the NBA—as a critical stakeholder in Nigeria’s democracy—to engage constructively, offering solutions instead of amplifying divisive narratives,” the statement concluded.
The Sole Administrator reaffirmed his commitment to restoring democratic institutions and upholding constitutional rights across Rivers State.
