Controversial Rivers N300m Funding: Igbini Calls For Freezing Of NBA’s Accounts, Suspension Of AGC

…Says leadership goofed, aided constitutional abuse by Fubara

Comrade (Engr) Igbini Odafe Emmanuel, National President of the Vanguard for Transparent Leadership and Democracy (VATLAD), has faulted the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and its acceptance of N300 million from suspended Rivers State Governor Sim Fubara for its upcoming 2025 Annual General Conference (AGC).

Igbini, who raised serious legal and ethical questions surrounding the controversial funding, in a statement on Friday, accused the NBA leadership of complicity in what it describes as an unconstitutional act.

Governor Fubara’s alleged withdrawal and disbursement of public funds without adhering to the 2024 Appropriation Law has been a major source of political tension in Rivers State, culminating in the recent declaration of a state of emergency.

Igbini contender that NBA was well aware of several court judgments, including a Federal High Court ruling in January 2024, which declared Fubara’s actions unconstitutional.

He said that the judgments mandated the governor to present an Appropriation Bill for 2024, an obligation he reportedly ignored, adding that the NBA’s acceptance of funds under these dubious circumstances raises alarms regarding its commitment to upholding the rule of law.

“For the avoidance of doubt, these subsections of Section 120 of the Nigerian Constitution, state very clearly and unambiguously that No money shall be withdrawn from the Consolidated Revenue Funds of Rivers State and disbursed by the State Governor except as the issue of the money to be withdrawn and released to NBA for this 2025 AGC has been authorized by a Law of the House of Assembly of Rivers State.

“The NBA has shown total disregard for the constitution and the valid judgments of the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, and the Federal High Court of Nigeria. Their actions have not only embarrassed the legal profession but have also contributed to the worsening political crisis in Rivers State,” Igbini said.

Critics of the NBA asserted that its leadership should have refused the funding until the legal issues surrounding the disbursement were resolved. The fallout from this controversy has led VATLAD to call for immediate action from federal authorities to freeze NBA’s accounts and halt the scheduled AGC in protest against the misuse of public funds.

The NBA, in their defense, had described the N300 million as a “gift” not tied to any contractual obligations for hosting the AGC in Rivers State. They have pointed out that similar support has been received from various state governments and corporate entities, which they argue should not be subjected to the same scrutiny.

However, this stance has done little to quell the rising discontent as Igbini pointed out that public funds should only be disbursed in accordance with the law.

“There is no constitutional legitimacy to the funding received by the NBA, and failure to acknowledge this jeopardizes the integrity of the entire legal profession,” he added.

The statement reads; “Despite being aware of these two Judgments this Leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association in fragrant disregard and disobedience to the Judgements of these Courts of Law, embarked on soliciting for the release of this sum
of three hundred million naira to it from the funds belonging to Rivers State that has the valid Orders of Courts restraining Governor Fubara or any person from withdrawing from except with Appropriation Law 2024 by the Rivers State House of Assembly under the Leadership of Rt Hon. Martin Amaewhule as Speaker

“What is even more shocking and amounting to the worst disrespect for the Supreme Court of Nigeria, is the fact that this leadership of NBA being also very much aware of the Judgement of the Supreme Court delivered on February 28, 2025, upholding the Judgment and Order issued by the trial Court on January 22, 2024, is still insisting and refusing to refund this money to Rivers State.

“The argument made by this leadership of the NBA that this sum of money released to it by Governor Fubara is similar to funds it gets from other State Governors, MDAs and Corporate Organisations whose Budgets accommodate such Corporate Social Responsibilities now raises the very critical question we wish to ask the NBA: has the Rivers State Government under the leadership of Governor Fubara, a valid and constitutional 2024 Budget that accommodated this Social Corporate Responsibility – the N300m given in support to NBA 2025 Annual General Conference?

“In totally of the above we arrive at the conclusion that this leadership of the NBA has brought huge embarrassment to the highly respect noble profession and NBA by showing total disregard and respect to the Constitution of Nigeria and the valid Judgments Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal and Federal High Court of Nigeria.

“Further more, by it continued action it is clear that it is part of those who misled Governor Fubara to disregard the critical provisions of Constitution of Nigeria and disobey the Judgements of the two Courts, such action led to the worsening political tension in the Rivers State and the valid reason for the declaration of state of emergency.

“This leadership of NBA can therefore not hide under the guise of protesting against the declaration of the state of emergency in Rivers State when it played a key role to creating the crisis and anarchy in the State.

“Finally, we call on the relevant Federal Government Agencies to without delay, freeze the Accounts of the NBA and stop the planned AGC until this three hundred million naira and the interest that has accrued on it are unconditionally returned to Consolidated Revenue Account of Rivers State.

“These members of the Leadership of NBA are not above the Laws of Nigeria and therefore must not be allowed to encourage lawlessness in our country, Nigeria”, the statement added.