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JUST IN: NBA Explains Why Portable performed at its 2023 conference
The Nigerian Bar Association has explained why singer, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, performed at the association’s 2023 Annual General Conference held on Thursday dismissing the rumour making the rounds that the artiste was paid to perform.
Late last night, netizens lashed out at the NBA for inviting Portable to perform at their show that consisted of “learned” individuals adding that the association had by that singular act not helped its reputation and reduced themselves to “razz”.
Others say the show was a joke and an embarrassment to the law profession known for conservatism.
But in his reaction, the National Publicity Secretary of the NBA, Akorede Lawal, during an interview on Friday, linked Portable’s presence at the event to entertainer Obi Cubana’s partnership with the programme as the headline sponsor.
He added that latter’s Cubana Group brought Portable because he was one of his products (Odogwu bitters) brand ambassadors and because being the headline sponsor came with bringing a guest artiste to perform at the ‘Unbar concert’ that usually has lawyers irrespective of their status to close the conference.
Lawal said, “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 write to sponsors to finance every level of our events.
“We have partners from America, Chile, and a host of other countries who pride in what we do and take it upon themselves to get the programme financed annually.
Speaking on whether lawyers staged a walkout on Portable at the event, the publicity secretary said, “No, they did not. The Friendship Centre is the customary place where all lawyers go to unwind, network and do all other social activities.
“So, the concert was meant to take place there but we later told the lawyers to move to the ‘Unbarred concert’ at the Velodrome of the National Stadium in Abuja because we don’t want two events at the same time given that that place (Friendship Centre) had been decorated already to promote their brands.
“They were the headline sponsor of the centre and that’s where the DJs and every other social activities had been going on since the start of the event. So we closed the place down to have a unified event,” he added.
He further appreciated the Cubana Group for sponsoring the event.
The conference tagged “Getting it right” marked the 63rd and it started on Friday, August 25 to Wednesday, August 30, 2023, with several activities earmarked for the occasion.
The Kaduna State Police Command has revealed the identity of the man who caused panic after charging towards President Bola Tinubu during his visit to the state.
According to the police, the suspect has been identified as Umar Mohammed, a resident of Anguwan Muazu in Kaduna.
The incident happened during the commissioning of a 300-bed specialist hospital in Millennium City.
As President Tinubu was addressing the audience, Mohammed suddenly broke through the crowd and rushed toward him, triggering a swift response from security operatives.
The moment left Tinubu visibly shocked, as seen in a widely shared video showing his startled reaction and the confusion among his security team.
Police later disclosed that the man has a mental health condition he has lived with since birth.
They described his actions as unplanned and driven by excitement, adding that he was unarmed and posed no real threat after being restrained.
Despite the scare, the event continued as planned.
Governor Uba Sani led the inauguration of the hospital, which is expected to boost healthcare access in Kaduna.
Video credit: TVC (Twitter)
News
Hardship: Govs Agree to Dismantle Illegal Road Blocks, Multiple Taxes
The communique was signed by NGF Chairman and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
Governors of the 36 states of the federation have agreed to dismantle illegal road blocks and multiple taxes across the country.
They made the resolution after a meeting of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) in Abuja, which ended early Thursday.
The governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who read the communique at the end of the meeting, said that the governors resolved to dismantle illegal road blocks and multiple taxes, which they said contributed to food inflation in the country.
The communique was signed by NGF Chairman and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
(ThisDay)
News
TCN Records 42 Incidents of Transmission Lines Vandalisms Within Seven Months
The major effect of the vandalism is the disruption of power supply across the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry, as the generated power from the generation station could not be wheeled to the distribution ends.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) recorded 42 vandalism incidents on its infrastructures between January to June 2025 and which affected a total of 178 transmission towers nationwide.
The General Manager of Transmission Service at TCN, Mr Ali Sharifa, who made this known yesterday in Keffi, Nasarawa State, lamented that 2024 and 2025 have been the most trying times for TCN concerning vandalism of its transmission line infrastructure by non-state actors.
“A total of 86 towers were vandalized in 2024, with 26 towers completely down, which left affected states in total darkness. While in the first and second quarters of 2025, a total of 42 acts of vandalism were recorded affecting a total of 178 towers,” he said.
He emphasized that the major effect of the vandalism is the disruption of power supply across the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry, as the generated power from the generation station could not be wheeled to the distribution ends.
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