The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has stated that it neither extended an invitation nor paid any fees to Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, for his performance at the 2023 Annual General Conference held on Thursday, August 31.
Earlier, vanguard News reported on the public reaction to Portable’s appearance at the NBA event, which had a significant number of distinguished individuals in attendance. The NBA faced criticism for supposedly inviting Portable to perform, with many considering it a joke and an embarrassment that tarnished the association’s reputation, labeling it as “uncultured.”
In response to these reactions, Akorede Lawal, the National Publicity Secretary of the NBA, clarified that the association did not formally invite Portable, as many Nigerians had assumed. Lawal explained that Portable’s presence at the event was due to entertainer Obi Cubana’s partnership with the conference as the headline sponsor. Cubana Group, as a sponsor, included Portable because he was one of the brand ambassadors for their product, Odogwu bitters. Additionally, being the headline sponsor entailed arranging a guest artiste to perform at the ‘Unbarred concert,’ which traditionally features lawyers regardless of their status to conclude the conference.
Lawal emphasized that the NBA did not provide any financial compensation to Portable for his performance. He mentioned that the NBA sought sponsorship from various partners, including those from America, Chile, and other countries, who appreciated the association’s work and willingly financed its events.
Regarding reports of lawyers staging a walkout during Portable’s performance, Lawal clarified that this did not happen. He explained that the Friendship Centre was the designated place for lawyers to socialize, network, and engage in various social activities. However, the NBA later directed lawyers to move to the ‘Unbarred concert’ held at the Velodrome of the National Stadium in Abuja to avoid conflicting events. The Friendship Centre had already been decorated to promote its sponsors’ brands, and the decision was made to unify the event at the Velodrome.
Recent Comments