NFF, LMC trade words over league ownership
T@shagcy he Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) led by Chris Giwa and the League Management Company (LMC) Ltd are trading words over who is the custodian of the Nigeria Professional Football League following the taking over of the Nigeria Football Federation secretariat by the Giwa faction last week.
While the new NFF board directed Chairman of the League Management Company, Mallam Shehu Dikko and the Chief Operating Officer, Salihu Abubakar to step aside following their committal to prison, the LMC on the other hands insisted that the duo would stay put because their action is base on its governance regulations.
The NFF, on Sunday issued a statement directing the two LMC officials to vacate their seats, saying Justice Ishaku Kunda had committed them to prison at the Jos Federal Prison for disobedience to the orders of the court to serve for 14 days in the first instance until they purge themselves of disobedience.
The statement, signed by Victor Iroele, SSA to the president on Media, also said, in addition, Dikko is being investigated by the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development as directed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC for allegations of financial corruption and sundry issues triggered by petition of ethical administration of the League, and Nigeria Football Federation.
But the LMC, in a statement yesterday said the statement by the NFF was a clear contravention of the known football governance statutes and regulations.
It says, “the LMC has so far maintained a studied silence since the contrived crisis in the NFF took root as we always believed the extant football rules, regulations and statutes would ultimately prevail and the company would want to, in line with it’s own governance rules, maintain this stand.
“It needs be stated, however, that the so-called committal which was done ex-parte (in the absence of the officers) was appealed in 2016 and quashed by the Court of Appeal, Jos Division, in April 2017. Given the shocking violation of the rules of fair hearing in the proceedings and conduct of the case at first instance, the Lower Court Judge was reported to the Nigeria Judicial Commission (NJC) for misconduct, by LMC.
“For the avoidance of doubt and for public guidance, the LMC is a limited liability company governed by all applicable law, operated and governed by the LMC governance structure which was approved by the 20 NPFL club in 2013, NFF Executive Committee in 2014 and indeed ratified by a bona fide General Assembly (Congress) of the NFF at its meeting in Lagos 2014. “The LMC governance structure is also registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission in line with its extant rules on corporate governance.
“Accordingly, the LMC Regulations or governance structure has clear cut provisions and processes for appointing and removing its directors, including the among others.
“The LMC looks forward to a speedy resolution of all issues in Nigerian football administration in line with the stipulated rules and regulations within the football statutes (NFF and FIFA Statutes) and would elect to monitor situations as they would affect the smooth administration of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), in line with the mandate granted it by Chairman and COO the NFF General Assembly (Congress), the highest legislative decision making organ in national football administration,” the LMC statement said.
Meanwhile, the NFF through the Acting General Secretary, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme approved the redeployment of Head of Female League, Ayo Abdulrahman to the League Management Company as Chief Operating Officer (COO).