The Eastern Bar Forum (EBF) has denied claims attributed to Anthony Ibe Esq. regarding an alleged ₦40 million financial support from the Imo State Government for its July 2026 quarterly meeting, insisting that the only amount received by the Forum was ₦9 million.
In a press statement dated 5th September 2026, the Governing Council of the Eastern Bar Forum said it was compelled to respond to what it described as a “baseless and misleading allegation” concerning the alleged ₦40 million support.
The Forum stated that records available to it showed that the Imo State Government, through the Honourable Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, paid ₦9 million into the Forum’s Zenith Bank account on Friday, 10 July 2026, while additional anticipated support was never received.
According to EBF, any suggestion that the Forum received ₦40 million was incorrect.
“For the avoidance of any doubt, if indeed ₦40 million was approved by the Governor of Imo State for the Eastern Bar Forum, we state without equivocation that the Forum never received such money and it is not within our knowledge that any such sum was paid to the Forum.”
The Forum further stated that its financial records remained clear on the matter, stressing:
“The only amount received by the Eastern Bar Forum from the Government of Imo State in connection with the meeting was ₦9 million, and that receipt was duly acknowledged.”
EBF also criticised the publication of what it described as inaccurate information, saying it was “deeply concerning” that an issue capable of verification from the Forum’s financial records was being subjected to speculation and distortion.
The Forum disclosed that despite the withdrawal of the expected additional support, it did not make an issue of it and formally acknowledged receipt of the ₦9 million through a letter dated 30 July 2026 signed by the Governor and members of its Governing Council.
Reacting to the allegation of ₦40 million support, the Forum stated:
“It therefore smacks of mischief and appears to be a calculated attempt to embarrass the Eastern Bar Forum to insinuate that the Forum received ₦40 million from the Government of Imo State as support for its quarterly meeting.”
The Forum further maintained that it would not be dragged into political controversies surrounding Imo State, noting that it was aware of the crisis involving the Executive, the Bench and a section of the Bar but had chosen to remain neutral.
In its concluding remarks, EBF reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and accountability, stating:
“Our position is simple: we received ₦9 million, and not ₦40 million. Any contrary claim should be tested against the records of the Forum.”
The Forum ended by insisting that its records remained available to clarify the matter, declaring:
“The records speak for themselves.”
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