The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has provided clarification regarding the performance of singer Habeeb Okikiola, widely known as Portable, at the association’s 2023 Annual General Conference, dispelling the circulating rumor that the artist was compensated for his performance.
Late last night, social media users criticized the NBA for inviting Portable to perform at their event, which typically features “learned” individuals. Some argued that this decision had tarnished the association’s reputation and portrayed them as less sophisticated.
Others viewed the show as a jest and a departure from the traditional conservativism associated with the legal profession.
In response to these concerns, the National Publicity Secretary of the NBA, Akorede Lawal, addressed the matter during an exclusive interview with PUNCH on Friday. He explained that Portable’s presence at the event was linked to entertainer Obi Cubana’s partnership with the program as the headline sponsor. Cubana Group brought Portable because he served as one of their product (Odogwu Bitters) brand ambassadors. Additionally, being the headline sponsor entailed arranging a guest artiste to perform at the ‘Unbarred Concert,’ an event that typically includes lawyers of all ranks to close the conference.
Lawal emphasized, “We did not pay a dime to Portable for the concert. It is the largest gathering of lawyers anywhere in the world, and so to that extent, we always approach sponsors to fund various aspects of our events. We have partners from America, Chile, and several other countries who take pride in supporting our annual program financially.”
Regarding the speculation of lawyers walking out on Portable during the event, the publicity secretary clarified, “No, they did not. The Friendship Centre is the customary venue where lawyers gather to relax, network, and engage in social activities. Therefore, the concert was initially scheduled to take place there. However, we later directed the lawyers to move to the ‘Unbarred Concert’ at the Velodrome of the National Stadium in Abuja. This decision was made to avoid concurrent events at the Friendship Centre, which had already been decorated to promote our sponsors’ brands. The Friendship Centre had been hosting various activities since the start of the event. We closed it down to consolidate our efforts into a unified event.”
Lawal also expressed gratitude to the Cubana Group for sponsoring the event.
The conference, themed “Getting it Right,” marked the 63rd annual gathering and took place from Friday, August 25 to Wednesday, August 30, 2023, featuring a variety of activities throughout the occasion.
