The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has firmly denied claims that $2,000 was distributed to some Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) as an “attendance fee” during its recent engagement in Maiduguri.
In a statement, the NBA National Secretariat described the allegation as baseless and unsupported by evidence, warning that it unfairly questions the integrity of the association’s leadership.
According to the secretariat, the NBA neither received nor authorised the distribution of any such sum.
The association stressed that there is no documentary proof to support claims that the Borno State Government paid $2,000 to any group on behalf of the NBA.
“There is no payment voucher, no government schedule of disbursement, no official list of beneficiaries issued by any state authority, and no identifiable budgetary head under which such a payment could have been processed,” the statement said.
The NBA insisted that the $2,000 attendance fee claim lacks verifiable records and should not be taken as fact without proper documentation.
NBA President, Afam Osigwe (SAN), also dismissed the allegations, maintaining that no NBA funds were diverted, misapplied, or shared during the Maiduguri meeting.
A review of the association’s accounts, he said, showed no transaction reflecting the alleged payment.
Addressing speculation surrounding the NEC meeting in Maiduguri, Osigwe clarified that although the Borno State governor attended a cocktail reception during the event, he neither addressed the gathering nor made any financial presentation.
The NBA emphasised that allegations involving public fund disbursement can be verified through lawful channels, including formal inquiries or requests under the Freedom of Information Act.
However, it noted that no documentary evidence has been produced to substantiate the $2,000 attendance fee claim.
The association reiterated its commitment to transparency and accountability, urging critics to rely on verified facts rather than speculation.
