1. There can be no discussion for a possible refund because the authority that gave the money to the NBA has not asked for a refund. The putative Sole Administrator is not an authority known to the Constitution of Nigeria as the Government of Rivers State. He is the same as one of the many bandits that have taken over some of the communities of Nigeria. That he is under the treasonable sponsorship of the President makes no difference. NBA cannot refund money to him because that would be the same as NBA aiding and abetting his treasonable conduct.
2. It is wrong to attach any untoward or ill motive to the giving and receipt of the money. NBA Conference is a high profile event which any State Government may properly wish to take advantage of to boost its law and justice sector credentials. Any such sponsorship should be properly acknowledged. It increases the goodwill of the State.
3. The loss of the advantage of hosting the event, which ordinarily would be a means of show casing the State to the world, cannot be blamed on the NBA. It has to be implied that the State would not be a sponsor of unconstitutionality or any situation that would be incompatible with the rule of law and justice, which are the irreducible principles that the NBA stands upon and promotes. There was no purchase of hosting right with the donation. There was only an appreciation from the State Government to the NBA for the privilege of the State being chosen to host the event. In other words, the State gave the money out of a sense of an obligation to be a good and grateful host.
4. Those calling for a refund are guilt tripping themselves unnecessarily. Seeking sponsorship for the NBA is part of marketing the Conference or employing it as a tool of raising money for the NBA. It is not strictly about funding the Conference. It goes further to using the Conference as a platform to raise more money for the NBA. At the Conference, you have different commercial concerns seizing advantage of the Conference to market their goods and services. Querying NBA for taking money from the Government of the State where the Conference holds is like querying NBA for taking registration fees from those business concerns.
Published by Chuks Nwachuku
