A scandal appears to be brewing following revelations that the Annual General Conference Planning Committee (AGCCPC) allegedly spent a whopping sum of N320 million to procure and bring in conference bags for the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) conference.
AGCCPC is the committee saddled with the responsibility of organising the annual meet of the nation’s registered and practicing lawyers.
According to insiders and documents being circulated among some officials, also available to Everyday.ng, an organising committee allegedly procured and flew in 18,760 conference bags for N320 million ($389,000).
Tongues are wagging that the Nigerian body of lawyers not only spent such a staggering amount, but worsened the situation by importing them from China.
One source wondered what happened to quality bags that are made in Aba, Abis State.
The costs associated with procurement and handling of the bags is said to be slightly in excess of the sum budgeted and approved by the NBA National Executive Council for Conference Bags.
The expenditure, lawyers fear, will leave a hole in the NBA’s pocket, though the registration fees of participants at the conference and other sources will cover up.
It was gathered that some members of the AGCCPC are already grumbling a little loudly about the financial transactions.