Emergency Rule: Wike Mocks NBA Over ₦300m ‘Booty’

Nyesom Wike has questioned the NBA’s credibility over its stance on Rivers’ emergency rule, citing a ₦300 million gift it received as compromise.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has questioned the credibility of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) over its stance against the emergency rule declared in Rivers State.

Speaking during a media session in Abuja, Wike alleged that the NBA had received a ₦300 million “gift” from the suspended administration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara. According to him, this compromised the NBA’s ability to remain neutral and influenced its opposition to the emergency measures.

He challenged the NBA’s judgment on the situation, pointing out that the association’s criticism followed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s suspension of Fubara and other officials in Rivers for six months.

After the suspension, the NBA decided to move its 2025 Annual General Conference from Port Harcourt to Enugu. They cited the emergency rule as the reason and described the move by the federal government as “unconstitutional.”

However, the NBA faced backlash over this decision—especially after the new Sole Administrator of Rivers State, retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, demanded the return of the ₦300 million given for the event.

The NBA insisted the money was just a gift. But Wike disagreed, saying it was illegal because it was not approved through proper government budgeting processes.

“On the NBA matter, it is unfortunate. How will the NBA back Rivers emergency rule when they collected gifts?” he asked. “When the Body of Benchers came to see me, I told them. When the Justice gave judgement about local government, the NBA came out and condemned it without reading the judgement.”

Wike went on to explain: “The president declared a state of emergency in Rivers State. They say he is not correct until everybody now knows why they took that stance—because the state gifted them a gift that was not appropriate.”

He added: “NBA took ₦300 million and said it was a gift. In my budget I put it as a grant. I am allowed by law because it is appropriated. In this case the gift was not appropriated. NBA took an illegal gift.”
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