Nigerian Bar Association denies sharing ‘attendance fee’ with SANs

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has refuted claims that an ‘attendance fee’ of  $2,000 was distributed to some Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) during its recent engagement in Maiduguri, describing the allegation as false and unfounded.

Sources at the NBA National Secretariat said the claim, lacks any evidentiary basis and risks undermining the integrity of the Association’s leadership.

According to the sources, no funds intended for the NBA were disbursed to any category of its members including SANs, branch officials, statutory members of the National Executive Committee (NEC), or young lawyers during the Maiduguri engagement. “The Association neither received nor authorised the distribution of any such sum,” the sources said.

They further clarified that there is no documentary evidence to support claims that the Borno State Government paid $2,000 to any group on behalf of the NBA.

The sources further stated that there was no payment voucher, no government disbursement schedule, no official list of beneficiaries issued by any state authority, and no identifiable budgetary provision under which such payment could have been processed.

The Secretariat maintained that no NBA funds were diverted, misapplied or shared during the Maiduguri meeting. A review of the Association’s financial records, according to the sources, shows no transaction corresponding with the alleged payment. They emphasised that allegations involving public funds require verifiable evidence and can be substantiated through formal inquiries or requests under the Freedom of Information Act.

Addressing speculation surrounding the NEC meeting in Maiduguri, the sources noted that although the state governor attended the cocktail reception, he neither addressed attendees nor made any financial announcement.

The Secretariat cautioned against conflating speculation with documented financial transactions, stressing that based on available records, no $2,000 payment was made to or received by the NBA, and no Association funds were distributed to members in Maiduguri.

“The integrity of the Bar cannot be impeached on conjecture,” the sources said. “Allegations must be supported by evidence, not assumption or repetition.”

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