The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has stated that the ₦300 million it received from the Rivers State Government was an unconditional donation and not linked to any supposed hosting rights for its 2025 Annual General Conference. In a statement, Emeka Obegolu, Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Chairman of the 2025 NBA Conference Planning Committee, clarified that the decision to hold the conference in Port Harcourt was made back in August 2024, without any bidding process or financial obligations tied to hosting rights. Obegolu was responding to comments by the Rivers State Administrator suggesting that the state government had paid to host the 2025 NBA Conference, which was initially planned for Port Harcourt. He emphasized that, due to the high cost of organizing the event, the Planning Committee typically seeks financial support from various organizations, agencies, and state governments. However, such contributions are unconditional and not linked to any hosting privileges. The NBA further clarified that gifts or financial support do not guarantee hosting rights, nor does the association make any commitment to hold the conference in a particular city based on such support.