NBA SHOULD REFUND RIVERS STATE MONEY IMMEDIATELY - ADEGBORUWA, SAN

Leading human rights and constitutional lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, has backed the demand for the Nigerian Bar Association to refund N300m the Rivers State Government offered in support for the hosting of itd Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt.

Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa said in a terse statement that he read with utter shock and disbelief the story of N300m, adding that "all lawyers in Nigeria pay their practicing fees annually. Money is also charged for lawyers who wish to attend the conference, such that there is no basis for NBA going cap in hand to beg for money to host a conference of lawyers."

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria also noted that lawyers are the conscience of the society, who are expected to champion the rule of law.

"Such an organization should not be seen to be romancing with any government, especially in the face of suffering by the masses of our people due to wicked economic policies and human rights abuses by the government. After all, he who pays the piper dictates the tune." He added.

Continuing, he said "We have no basis retaining the “gift” from Rivers State, so NBA should refund the money immediately. We should not hide under any semantics or bureaucracy to retain the money. It should be paid into an escrow account with the Central Bank of Nigeria pending the restoration of democracy in Rivers State. NBA is not a bank.

"I urge the elders of the Bar to intervene urgently to take away this collective shame. If the money has been spent, I urge all SANs and senior lawyers to contribute N1M each in order to raise the money.

"Going forward, NBA should thread cautiously in raising funds from all manner of persons and institutions. Lawyers in Nigeria are well endowed to fund any programme for the NBA."