May we respectfully note that the view that NBA must refund the N300m 2025 NBA AGC, is neither supported by fact or law. NBA will not return any money to Rivers State government as the money was a gift meant for the sponsorship of certain conference items and not for “hosting rights”!

Lawyers may recall that I announced the choice of Rivers State as venue for the Conference during my inauguration as NBA President on August 29, 2024. This decision which was ratified by NEC on November 8, 2024 was made without lobbying or bidding by Rivers State.

The money in question was donated by Rivers State government in February, 2025 in response to our letter of request for sponsorship dated sometime in January 2025. It must be noted that the things the money was sought for were stated in the letter. It was clearly not for any purported “sponsorship rights”!

We have done nothing wrong and are not insisting on holding on to money we are not entitled to. The NBA is entitled to retain the money and will retain it.

Permit me to note that the danger in the view that NBA MUST refund the money is that any person who donated money to NBA for the conference can for non-existent reason or no reason insist on the refund of such donation. This is a floodgate we cannot afford to open.

May we reiterate that a gift given without any condition as in this case cannot be demanded for or refunded. A gratuitous gift/donation is simply that. The money was for sponsorship, not for any right in the Conference or for acquisition of a right to irrevocably hold the conference in Rivers State.

We will therefore not refund any money to Rivers State. In saying this I’ll not bother asking or answering the question whether an unconstitutional government can ask for the refund of donation voluntarily made by a democratic government.

NBA AGCPC