Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, a prominent Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has called for the immediate return of ₦300 million given to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) by the Rivers State Government. The learned silk made his position clear, stating that there is no justification for the NBA to retain the money, which was provided as part of support for the association’s upcoming Annual General Conference.
In a statement issued to the press, Adegboruwa condemned the NBA’s acceptance of the “gift,” highlighting the ethical concerns of such a relationship between the legal profession and government. He stressed that the NBA should not be seen as aligning with any government, especially when the masses are enduring economic hardships caused by what he described as “wicked economic policies and human rights abuses” by the government.
“A lawyer’s role is to be the conscience of society, championing the rule of law,” Adegboruwa asserted. “Such an organisation should not be seen to be romancing with any government,” particularly in light of the ongoing suffering of the Nigerian people.
Adegboruwa further clarified that the NBA should not have needed financial assistance to host a conference, given that all lawyers in Nigeria pay annual practicing fees. Additionally, there are fees charged to those wishing to attend the conference. The senior lawyer argued that these funds should be sufficient for the event without relying on external sources.
The prominent advocate called for the ₦300 million to be placed in an escrow account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) until democracy is restored in Rivers State. He urged that the NBA should not assume the role of a bank and insisted that if the money had already been spent, senior lawyers, including all SANs, should contribute ₦1 million each to replenish the amount.
Adegboruwa also appealed to the elders of the Bar to intervene and remove what he termed a “collective shame” that the NBA now faces. He warned that the NBA must be more cautious in raising funds from various institutions, asserting that Nigerian lawyers are well-positioned to finance their own programmes.
In an effort to ensure the integrity of the legal profession, Adegboruwa concluded with a call for greater independence and ethical responsibility in fundraising for legal events. He stated, “Lawyers in Nigeria are well endowed to fund any programme for the NBA.”