The Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), has responded to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) over its decision to move the 2025 Annual General Conference from Port Harcourt to Enugu.
In a statement released on Monday, Ibas described the reasons given by the NBA as both unfair and misleading.
Speaking through his media aide, Hector Igbikiowubo, Ibas said that although the NBA has every right to decide where to hold its event, it must also address the issue of the N300 million already paid by the Rivers State Government for the hosting rights of the conference.
“While we respect the NBA’s right to choose its conference venues, we find it curious that the association—despite its ‘principled position’— didn’t address the refund of the N300 million already paid by the Rivers State Government for the hosting rights of the 2025 conference,” the statement reads.
He noted that if the NBA truly believes in fairness, it should return the funds instead of holding onto them while moving the event elsewhere. The statement also accused the association of ignoring the real political and legal situation in the state.
According to Ibas, the relocation announcement made by the NBA on April 10 was based on faulty claims. He said the accusation that the Sole Administrator’s actions were against democracy and the rule of law was not only inaccurate but also damaging to the reputation of the state.
He went on to say that the change in Rivers State leadership came as a result of a constitutional process and a necessary response to unrest. He explained that President Bola Tinubu acted within his powers to bring back stability to the region.
“The Sole Administrator’s mandate is clear: to oversee a transitional period that ensures the return of full democratic governance in line with the Constitution,” the statement added.
It also referenced a Supreme Court decision that validated certain actions taken by the Rivers State Government. The court reportedly ruled that local elections not following the Electoral Act were invalid.
“To suggest that this intervention ‘flouts the rule of law’ is not only incorrect but ignores the Supreme Court’s rulings that have validated key decisions made during this period,” the statement further explained.
Ibas noted that the NBA, as a respected body of legal experts, should not reduce complex legal matters to what he called “political noise.” Instead, he urged the association to take a more responsible and helpful stance.
“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 read.
As the state navigates through what he called a “difficult but important” moment in its political journey, the Sole Administrator called for support from both the NBA and the public. He said his focus remains on maintaining peace and guiding Rivers State back to full democratic rule.
