Solomon Bob, a House of Representatives member from Rivers State, has sharply criticized the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for its condemnation of the state of emergency imposed in Rivers, accusing the legal body of hypocrisy and political partisanship.
Bob also called for the immediate return of N300 million that the Rivers State Government allegedly paid to the NBA for its annual conference, which was originally scheduled to be held in Port Harcourt.
He dismissed the NBA’s justification that the funds were a “gift” from the state government, calling it “unreasonable” and “inappropriate” for an organization that claims to uphold legal standards.
“The NBA has no authority to alter or reinterpret the President’s constitutional powers as outlined in Section 305,” Bob said. “The NBA is not in a position to determine what constitutes extraordinary measures, as required under that section of the Constitution.”
Bob’s remarks came in response to a statement issued by the NBA on April 10, in which the association criticized President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, labeling it unconstitutional and politically motivated.
In his response, Bob defended the President’s actions, attributing the decision to the escalating political crisis in Rivers, particularly the ongoing conflict between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly, which is believed to be aligned with Minister Nyesom Wike.
According to Bob, the situation—marked by the threat of impeachment, rising violence, and attacks on oil infrastructure—necessitated federal intervention to prevent further instability.
The lawmaker also accused the NBA of selective activism and questioned its moral authority to provide advice on democratic principles. He argued that the NBA’s recent positions reflect partisanship rather than objective legal analysis and that its internal practices and public statements betray a lack of neutrality.
Bob concluded by warning that the NBA’s conduct, which he described as politically motivated, was eroding its credibility and diminishing its ability to serve as an impartial legal institution.