NBA boils over Rivers N300 million scandal, leadership urged to resign

The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, an umbrella body of lawyers is boiling over credibility crisis as a group of eminent legal practitioners, the Public Interest Lawyers League, has called on the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe and the Chairman, NBA Annual General Conference Organising Committee, Emeka Obegolu to resign with immediate effect.

The call for resignation of the NBA leadership followed controversiy surround the alleged N300 million paid by the Rivers State Government to the association to host the event in Portharcourt.

It was alleged that the embattled governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara’s administration paid the sum of N300 million into the account of Osigwe-led NBA account and the agitating groups are urging the leadership to refund the money and resign from offices.

Amid the controversy of the suspension of Fubara from office, the NBA moved the conference to Enugu against the earlier plan, but the NBA leadership is insisting that it is a gift from Rivers State Government.

Irked by the claim, the President of Public Interest Lawyers League, Abdul Mahmud at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday insisted on refund, stating that the NBA as a watchdog public morality cannot be enmeshed in fraud and refunding the money would the image of the association by refunding the money without further delay.

He stressed that the insistence of the leadership of the NBA to hold on to the N300m is not only disgraceful but speaks to the organisational rot that has enabled the unaccountable elite class within the NBA to hold out the association as a personal fiefdom rather than as a democratic body of professionals.

Mahmud said, “It is not enough for the NBA to proceed with business as usual. This moment demands accountability, courage and leadership.

“We at PILL therefore demand the immediate resignation of Mr Afam Osigwe as President of the NBA and Mr Emeka Obegolu as Chairman of the Annual General Conference Organizing Committee.

“These resignations are not punitive; they are necessary acts of organisational cleansing. They are the first steps toward the restoration of credibility and trust in the NBA.

“When leaders of professional bodies fail so conspicuously in their duties, they must be held to account. No one is above the law, not even those who claim to represent it.”

PILL also said, “The revelation of this transaction (N300m) did not come from the NBA. It did not come from the leadership of the Bar. It was not disclosed in any financial statement or publication to members. It was not acknowledged by the Chairman of the Annual General Conference Planning Committee.

“It came from the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, who, in an explosive public declaration, unveiled this dark secret to a shocked nation.

“Let that sink in. The NBA, an association of legal practitioners, sworn to uphold justice, transparency, and ethics, collected N300m from a sitting governor and failed to disclose it until they were exposed by an external political appointee.

“This scandal is not only about money. It is about principle. It is about integrity. It is about the soul of the Nigerian Bar Association.”

The group also urged the NBA to “immediately publish a full and audited account of all funds received from public or private entities in relation to the 2025 Annual General Conference.”

Other resolutions include “That the NBA returns the N300m to the Rivers State Government as a gesture of organisational contrition.

“That the NBA Council convenes an emergency General Meeting to discuss the implications of this scandal for the future of the association.

“That an independent panel composed of past NBA Presidents and credible senior lawyers be set up to recommend reforms to ensure greater transparency and accountability in the NBA’s financial dealings.”

The group vowed not to be silent, saying “We shall mobilise, advocate and litigate, if necessary, to ensure that the rule of law begins from the very body that is meant to defend it.”