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NBA Clarifies ₦300m Donation Was a Gift, Not Payment, in Rivers Crisis Response

NBA Clarifies ₦300m Donation Was a Gift, Not Payment, in Rivers Crisis Response

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has clarified that a ₦300 million donation it received from Rivers State was a “gift” to support its programs, not a payment for services, countering claims by the state’s Local Government Service Commission Administrator, Ebikebunna Alwell.

The controversy, aired on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily on April 14, 2025, stems from Alwell’s allegation that the NBA was “compromised” by the funds, implying it influenced the association’s stance on Rivers’ ongoing political crisis. NBA President Afam Osigwe, in a swift rebuttal, described the accusation as “baseless and misleading,” urging the public to disregard attempts to politicize the association’s neutrality.

Osigwe explained that the donation, made in 2024, funded legal education initiatives, including conferences and pro bono services, with no strings attached. “It was a transparent gesture, not a bribe,” he said, noting that Rivers’ contributions align with similar support from other states.

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The NBA released financial records showing ₦300 million was logged as a grant, audited by external firms. Alwell’s claim, tied to tensions over local government autonomy in Rivers, suggested the NBA backed Governor Siminalayi Fubara unfairly, a charge Osigwe refuted, citing the association’s call for dialogue among all parties.

Rivers’ crisis, pitting Fubara against factions loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike, has fueled protests and legal battles, with 2025 seeing over 10 court cases on LG funding. The NBA’s clarification aims to protect its credibility, as Osigwe warned against dragging the body into “partisan mudslinging.” Analysts say the dispute reflects deeper governance rifts, with Rivers’ ₦500 billion 2025 budget under scrutiny. The NBA plans a national summit in May to address judicial independence, signaling its resolve to stay above the fray.

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