THE NBA AND THE N300 MILLION MESS OF A “DONATION” — Is It A Legit Fundraising By NBA Or Proof Of A Compromised Lawyers’ Body?

(By Dr. Ope Banwo, Founder of Naija Lives Matter And Self Appointed Mayor Of Fadeyi)

This article is written in direct response to the recent opinion piece by respected senior advocate, Dr. Monday Onyekachi Ubani, SAN, titled “Your Excellency, Siminalayi Fubara, Please Come to the Rescue!” which sought to defend the controversial N300 million “donation” made by the Rivers State Government to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for its upcoming Annual General Conference.

While I hold Dr. Ubani in the highest regard as a brilliant legal mind and seasoned public affairs analyst, I must strongly disagree with his rationalizations and the apparent normalization of a highly troubling practice that goes to the very heart of institutional independence, professional ethics, and the moral compass of the legal profession in Nigeria.

Once again, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), a body that ought to embody the conscience, independence, and integrity of the legal profession, is caught in a scandal that goes far beyond optics. The revelation that the NBA collected a staggering N300 million “donation” from the Rivers State Government has not only triggered a political and legal firestorm—it has raised a fundamental question: Can a supposedly independent professional body continue to claim neutrality while receiving financial handouts from political actors?

Let us not be distracted by technicalities. Whether the money was conditional or not, whether it was explicitly tagged to the conference venue or not, is beside the point. The real issue is the ethical rot and institutional compromise that such transactions represent in principle.

Whether dressed in legalese or sugar-coated with tradition, the idea that an independent professional body like the NBA should collect hundreds of millions of naira from a sitting state governor—especially one enmeshed in political crisis—is not just problematic; it’s dangerous. It sends the wrong message to the public, undermines the credibility of the Bar, and exposes us all to the accusation of hypocrisy the next time we speak on justice, democracy, or the abuse of state power.

Let us dissect the key issues that Dr. Ubani’s piece either glossed over or inadvertently downplayed:

1. NBA Cannot Be the Conscience of the Nation and Also Feed from the Hands of Political Actors

You cannot speak truth to power while sipping wine from the same chalice of political patronage. Dr. Ubani suggests that such donations are “traditional” and offered in “goodwill.” That is precisely the problem! What tradition allows the guardian of justice to take financial blessings from those it is meant to scrutinize? This is not goodwill—it’s a compromise cleverly disguised as support.

2. The Timing and Context of the Donation Are Too Suspicious to Ignore

To argue that the NBA’s condemnation of the political chaos in Rivers State was unrelated to the N300 million donation is to ask Nigerians to suspend common sense. The money came from the very administration now in dispute, and the NBA has taken sides on that political matter. Even if the donation was not the cause, the perception alone is toxic and diminishes our credibility.

3. There’s No Such Thing as an “Innocent” N300 Million in Nigeria

Let’s be honest: In a country where governors are owing salaries, where courts are underfunded, and where social amenities are lacking, it is deeply unsettling that a state government finds it appropriate to donate N300 million to a lawyers’ conference. Whether requested or not, that kind of money doesn’t move without strings attached—even if invisible or unspoken.

4. The NBA Is Not a Charity Case Needing Handouts from Politicians

Dr. Ubani compares the NBA’s situation to that of other professional bodies like the Nigerian Medical Association or the Society of Engineers. But the NBA is not just a professional body—it is a moral institution. We fight for democracy, defend the rule of law, and claim to stand above politics. If we must resort to “donations” from governors to fund our events, then perhaps we need to rethink our financial model—not rationalize what clearly erodes our moral foundation.

5. This Situation Erodes Public Confidence in Our Interventions

Dr. Ubani argues that the matter should go to court to clarify the legality of such donations. I respectfully submit that this is not primarily a legal issue—it is a moral one. The real question is: Should we be collecting such funds in the first place? Because every time we do, we lose a little more of the public’s trust. How can we criticize government wrongdoing when we are on their payroll—officially or unofficially?

6. Refunding the Money Is Not Weakness. It Is Wisdom

The real test of integrity is not what the courts say, but what our conscience says. If the NBA wants to retain its standing as the voice of justice in Nigeria, it must return that money. Not because of pressure from the Sole Administrator or any partisan fallout, but because it was never appropriate to take it in the first place.

7. This Should Be a Turning Point for the NBA

Rather than defend this donation, the NBA leadership should seize this moment to create a permanent policy prohibiting financial contributions from political officeholders and public institutions. We must fund our events from within, through member dues and private, apolitical sponsorships. Anything else is a betrayal of the very ideals we are sworn to uphold.

In Conclusion: Time to Clean House

With all due respect to Dr. Ubani, I believe this issue goes beyond the defense of tradition or the technicalities of conditional versus unconditional gifts. It strikes at the heart of whether the NBA can still be trusted to lead national conversations about justice, accountability, and governance.

The optics are bad. The ethics are worse. And the silence of our leaders in the face of this controversy is deafening.

If the NBA must continue to wear the robe of moral authority, it must wash its hands of political donations—no matter how well-packaged or well-intentioned they appear.

Yes, My name is Ope Banwo, I am an attorney , public commentator , founder of Naija Lives Matter, and self appointed mayor of Fadeyi  and. I say Let the Bar be bold again. Let the Bar be clean again. Let the Bar be bold Again!