Why we invited Portable to perform at 2023 conference – NBA

The Nigerian Bar Association has clarified the reason behind singer Habeeb Okikiola’s, also known as Portable, performance at the association’s 2023 Annual General Conference.

Rumors were circulating that the artist was paid to perform; however, the NBA has dismissed these claims.

Late last night, social media users criticized the NBA for inviting Portable to perform at an event attended by learned individuals.

They felt that the association’s reputation had been compromised and that it had stooped to a lower level by including Portable in the lineup.

Some even deemed the event a joke and a disgrace to the usually conservative legal profession.

However, the NBA’s National Publicity Secretary, Akorede Lawal, explained during an exclusive interview with PUNCH on Friday that Portable’s presence was connected to entertainer Obi Cubana’s partnership as the headline sponsor of the program.

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 ‘Unbarred 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.

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 ‘Unbarred concert’ that usually has lawyers irrespective of their status to close the conference.

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 center and that’s where the DJs and every other social activity 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.