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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.
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Commotion In National Assembly Over Fire Outbreak
It took the swift intervention of senator Asuquo Ekpenyong from Cross River South and Senator Salihu Mustapha to quench the fire building up in the kitchen compartment of the Senate hearing room 107.
Image: National Assembly, Abuja
A fire outbreak in the Senate wing of the National Assembly was quickly put out on Wednesday; stopping it from spreading any further.
It took the swift intervention of senator Asuquo Ekpenyong from Cross River South and Senator Salihu Mustapha to quench the fire building up in the kitchen compartment of the Senate hearing room 107.
The Senate Committee on Niger -Delta Development Commission, NDCC chaired by Senator Ekpenyong had just concluded the screening exercise of Dr. Zainab Marwa as the member representing, Northeast on the board of the commission when smoke from the fire rapidly covered the scene of incident.
It was subsequently gathered that the fire emanated from a micro-wave left on in the kitchen.
In the brief commotion; Senator Ekpenyong’s swift intervention ensured that the fire was quickly put out.SOT
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President Tinubu Commissions new EFCC office in Ekiti
Earlier, EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede described the commissioning of the Ekiti Zonal Directorate as a landmark development that would enhance the Commission’s presence and effectiveness in the region.
• EFCC Ekiti Office commission by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Tuesday, June 9, 2026.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commissioned the new Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Zonal Directorate office in Ado-Ekiti.
Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the commissioning ceremony on Tuesday, President Tinubu said that the state-of-the-art facility reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening institutions responsible for fighting corruption and economic crimes.
The President commended EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, as well as the management and staff of the Commission for their efforts in enhancing the agency’s operational capacity and expanding its reach across the country.
According to him, the new office will improve the Commission’s effectiveness in tackling corruption, financial crimes and related offences, while bringing anti-graft operations closer to the people of Ekiti and Ondo States.
Earlier, EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede described the commissioning of the Ekiti Zonal Directorate as a landmark development that would enhance the Commission’s presence and effectiveness in the region.
He noted that the facility would help close operational gaps in the Commission’s coverage of Ekiti and Ondo States while improving engagement with local communities in the fight against corruption.
An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded on the Anka-Bagega road on Tuesday, killing one person and injuring seven others.
The blast struck a commercial Volkswagen Golf 3 Wagon carrying passengers travelling from Bagega village to Anka town. One passenger died on the spot, while the seven injured victims are receiving treatment at a primary healthcare facility in Bagega.
The explosion also caused significant damage to the vehicle, sparking fresh security concerns among commuters using the route.
This incident comes barely a month after a similar IED explosion occurred along the same road.
Zamfara State Commissioner of Police, Ahmad Bello, confirmed the attack. He said joint security forces have been deployed to assess the situation, clear the affected area, and restore normalcy on the route.
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