Following backlash especially from a cross section of its members, the Nigerian Bar Association has explained why singer, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable performed as guest artiste at the 2023 Annual General Conference held on Thursday.
Nigerians had late last night lashed out at the NBA for inviting Portable to perform at their show that consisted of “learned” individuals.
Members added 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.
In his reaction, the association speaking through its National Publicity Secretary, Akorede Lawal, during an exclusive interview with PUNCH on Friday, said that the street artiste was not paid to perform.
He linked Portable’s presence at the event to entertainer Obi Cubana’s partnership with the programme as the headline sponsor.
He added that the 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
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NBA Finally Reacts to Portable’s Invitation as Guest Artiste
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