The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) invited Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, to perform at its 2023 Annual General Conference on Thursday, 31st August 2023.

A lot of Nigerians murmured on the invitation of Portable to perform at a meeting of “learned” individuals adding that the association had by that singular act not helped its reputation and reduced its prestige.

The NBA dismissed the rumour making the rounds that the artiste was paid to perform when so many negative comments like “the show was a joke and an embarrassment to the law profession known for conservatism” came for the association.

The National Publicity Secretary of the NBA, Akorede Lawal, linked Portable’s presence at the event to entertainer Obi Cubana’s partnership with the programme as the headline sponsor during an interview.

“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 further 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.