Why we weeded out some referees who are ageing - NRA President

Show me a corrupt referee

*I don't know of referees who collect bribe 

By Oluwole Francis

President of Nigeria Referees Association (NRA), Tade Azeez, reacted to the widely held concern of key stakeholders in the game, especially referees, that they were cheated because they were not up to 45 years required.

“For those that were retired, its not because they're 45. For this exercise we choose people that would be 43 and below as of January 2017. The truth is we have massive number of referees in the lower league who are very young and good. For those retired we have some of them that have been officiating in the premier league for the last 10, 15 years. Whatever you have done for 15 years, this must be a way to ease you out if you don't want to go and allow others to take the challenge.

This game is played by younger people. You can't see a 45 year old player. The boys that are playing this game are within the range of 20 years and most younger than that. You can hardly see anyone that is 30 in the playing rank. So why should a referee be 45? Running in the midst of younger people. Its obvious that the younger people will be faster than him.
And the referee is ordinarily supposed to be ahead of this player. That’s what informed the decision to retire them at that age. Some people say we should retire them at 40. But I said some of the young ones still needs to learn from the experienced one's. For me as NRA president, I don't have any biological son here. These referees are not my cousin, my nephew, my children

Tade Azeez, NRA President

Asking him about referees who are alleged to collect bribe he said prove to me that you have seen anybody collect bribe in your presence. You've no evidence and you are making claims. As far as am the president of NRA, it has not come to my notice that referees are collecting bribe.

He also spoke about the NRA decision to give the responsibility of federation cup final to the young Adebimpe. Are we all impressed with what we saw? Whether the man was young or old did he discharge his duties accordingly or not. Were you not impressed with what you saw? Before we do appointment of referees for matches, we are conscious of where the referee is from, where the teams playing come from.

ARG congratulates Akeredolu, Ondo State people

Akeredolu, his wife, Betty, joins in the celebration

Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) has congratulated Ondo State people for their faith in democracy and using the opportunity it presents to determine the direction of their future as a people.

In a statement signed by its chairman, Hon. Olawale Oshun, ARG also praised the recipient of the people’s mandate, Barrister Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, and other candidates for pursuing their ambitions within the ambit of the Rule of Law. Such maturity and statesmanship, the group said, is needed to restore the pride of Yoruba land.

“We charge Akeredolu, as the guardian of the people’s mandate, to continuously and consistently prove himself a leader worthy of his people’s trust, by constantly communicating his vision and managing the resources of the state towards the development and wellbeing of Ondo State. We also charge the people to cooperate with the governor-elect, be alert to their civic duties and keep the government on that path of straight and narrow,” the statement said.

“We trust that Akeredolu’s administration will prioritise good governance over partisanship, in the noble and progressive tradition of Awolowo and Ajasin, which is the main reason he earned our endorsement.” 

“Most importantly, we are hopeful that in active collaboration with the governors of other Southwest states, Akeredolu’s emergence will make easier the pursuit of regional integration, which has already gained credible momentum in our region. We therefore call on other Yoruba governors to embrace him into their fold, in the renewed spirit of brotherhood and reconciliation in Southwest.”

“As a pan-Yoruba socio-political group, ARG will continue to stand for and protect the interest of Yoruba people.” 

Coalition of civil societies wants Supreme Court to expedite actions on NFF case

Amaju Pinnick and Chria Giwa

*Says FIFA won’t ban Nigeria

Forum of Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria has called on the Supreme Court of Nigeria to proceed with the case between Ambassador Chris Giwa and Amaju Pinnick-led factions of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) before it without fear or favour, stating that the world football governing body FIFA would not suspend Nigeria if she delivers judgement in favour of either of the parties.

National president of the coalition group, Comrade Ishaku Nok, while addressing the press on Monday in Abuja said it has become imperative for his group to assess the on-going NFF crisis from a civil society perspective.  He condemned the actions of a group of individuals who are bent in destroying the nation’s football with illegality.

“In consonance with our vision statement in advocating for national economic potentials, we are thus, compelled by the public to engage in the assessment of the crisis rocking the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). It is important to note that Nigeria as a football loving nation has been bamboozled by some group of individuals who are purporting that Nigeria would be suspended by FIFA if the Supreme Court gives justice on the matter because they are bent on staging illegality on legality.”

Comrade Nok says Nigerians should disregard the assertion by the Pinnick-led faction of NFF that if Supreme Court judgement does not favour them in her judgement FIFA would suspend Nigeria and stop them from the on-going world cup qualifiers.

According to him, “that statement by Amaju Pinnick is false, fraudulent and untrue because Argentina football body also had issues that were resolved in court and FIFA did not suspend them.”

However, the civil society group has advised the Pinnick-led faction to stop misinforming Nigerians with baseless assertions of the FIFA suspending Nigeria, adding that since this renewed court case on the 8^th April, 2016 FIFA has not interfered with the internal matter of the nation’s football and so they would not if the Supreme Court judgement favours either of the parties.

They also advised all those connected to the Federal Government to allow the law take its course in the NFF case because the present administration of President Mohammadu Buhari is not condoling illegality.

Pinnick’s NFF owe coaches, staffers 9 months salaries

NFF's worst leader since 1945?

*Late Amodu too included

Amaju Pinnick-led Board of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has once again displayed it's penchant for owing national team coaches, especially the indigenous ones.

Several national team coaches are being owed as much as nine months salary including staffers of the secretariat. The coaches include assistant coach of the Super Eagles, Salisu Yusuf, Flying Eagles coach Emmanuel Amuneke, Golden Eaglet's coach Manu Garba as well as the late Technical Director of the NFF, Shaibu Amodu.

The most affected among the coaches however is the Super Eagles assistant coach, Salisu Yusuf. While other coaches recently received one month payment from the nine months salary arrears, Salisu Yusuf who has four children in the university is yet to receive a dime, despite working all year with the Nigerian national team. The coach also takes care of his accumulating bill at Bolton White Apartments, where he has been staying.

In a report gotten from a reliable source, NFF in its attempt to pay Salisu Yusuf recently, mistakenly paid the money into the account of Belgian Jean Francois Loscuito who was assistant to Sunday Oliseh. Of course, the NFF was still owing the former as well.

In Emmanuel Amuneke's case and that of several others, they recently received just one month payment out of nine months salary arrears. Some of them have promised to take drastic actions against the NFF.

Furthermore, players of the U-17 men and women Nigerian national team have also received some ridiculous treatments. The U-17 girls reportedly got N10,000 from the Nigerian Football Federation after representing the country at the FIFA U-17 world cup. The same treatment was meted to the U-20 women’s team.

The U-17 boy's who just returned from an 8-nation invitational tournament in South Korea were also paid just N5,000.  Meanwhile, investigation revealed that the NFF indeed got well over $100,000 USD from the organisers of the Suwon invitational tournament as appearance fee.

FCT PS, Babatunde Ajakaiye, in another controversial scandal

FCT Minister Mohammed Bello and the Perm Sec, Dr Babatunde Ajakaiye

*Abuja businessman drags FCT Minister, Perm Sec, Development Control to court

* FCT Perm Sec. wants to take over my land

Chairman of Silver Proof Nigeria Limited, Mr. Tomothy Bagwams has alleged that the Permanent Secretary, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration, Dr. Babatope Ajakaiye is using his office to dispossess him of his plot of land in the Central Area.
Bagwams whose garden facility situated on Plot 747 A00 in the Central Area of the Federal Capital City was demolished by officials of the Department of Development Control on Wednesday November 16, 2016 maintained that Ajakaiye orchestrated the demolition for reasons outside public interest.

According to him, two days after the demolition, Dr. Babatope Ajakaiye, in company of some foreign investors who visited the demolished sites for inspection discussing possible use for the land despite a court summon that joined him as a defendant.
Bagwams who insisted that the Permanent Secretary gave instruction to the Department of Development Control to demolish the garden sought legal redress of the action.

Consequently, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Malam Mohammed Bello and the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Babatope Ajakaiye, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council and Director of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Parks and Recreation have been dragged before an Appeal Court by Chairman of Silver Proof Nigeria Limited, Mr. Tomothy Bagwams.

Bagwams appeals to the Court to restrain them from further demolition of his properties on Plot 747 A00 in the Central Area of the Federal Capital City, a land designated as District Recreational Park which "was dully allocated to Silver Proof Nigeria Limited by the Federal Capital Territory administration in 2007 with all the appropriate documents with the sole purpose of developing a garden on the plot."
 
In the suit: FCT/HC/CV/2020/16 Bagwams pointed out that there have been attempts in the past by the Federal Ministry of Finance to hijack the land from him on the ground that the location constitutes a security threat.

However, that fear was allayed when the FCT Administration wrote to the Ministry clarifying that the area is a sub-system of Green Area network within the Ministries zone in the detailed Central Area Urban Design prepared by Messrs. Kenzo Tange and Urtec in 1998.  

He said the Deed of Lease between him and the FCTA on the Park was signed and sealed on July 16, 2007 stressing that all the accompanied fees requested of him by the law have been paid in respect of the Deed.  

Bagwams who wondered the sudden interest by the administration on the plot lamented the loss that resulted from the demolition exercise which was carried out in the presence of heavily armed Police men and Soldiers during which journalists who attempted to cover the exercise were thoroughly beaten said his investment has gone down the drain.  

His words: I can't still understand what is happening. I was shocked when I received calls from my staff on Wednesday that officials of Department of Development Control were demolishing my garden. I thought it was a joke.  

"All my investment had gone because everything was demolished. Nothing was spared. I do not know the intention of the FCT administration with this exercise because I have all the relevant documents that back up the allocation of the place.  
"I have over 30 staff working at that garden, now they are all out of job because of this mindless demolition. We were in Court but I was surprised without being served the court ruling and they came to demolish the place. Is this the government we voted for? Is this the change we were promised?  

"It seems there are higher forces or powers that be that are interested in taking the land from me since I'm nobody. If not, why coming to the place with police and Soldiers to intimidate us and even harass journalists."

Nigeria football at daggers drawn over illegal sharing of NFLL’s N244million

EFCC now a debt recovery agency?

From A. Balogun

With the release by Lagos division of EFCC to NFLL of the sum of N244 million, being money due NFLL from Total Promotions Ltd., in respect of the Premier League’s Broadcasting Right agreement with Total Promotions Ltd, the Nigeria Football world is now in turmoil.

In a proverbial sense, it is said that the day an elephant dies, all sorts of knives, cutlasses, saws etc. surface to carve the elephant.  This aptly depicts the state of the on-going battle by football administrators with regards to the sharing of this money.

To appreciate the sorry debacle, let’s review the genesis.  Larry Kubeinje, who now styles himself as the official Ag. President of NANF alleged in a signed NANF petition to EFCC that Total Promotions Ltd was illegally withholding the sum of N344 million said to be owed the Premier League body for the broadcast right agreement signed between Total Promotions Limited (TPL) and Nigerian Football League Limited (NFLL).

EFCC invited TPL and the summary of the series of interviews is that  TPL is reported to have paid NFLL N244million by way of series of banks drafts.  It is this payment that is now the cause of the battle. Sources from the divided house of NANF close to the negotiation claims that EFCC executives had wanted the draft cheques to the tune of N244million to be drawn in the name of NANF, the petitioner but TPL was alleged to have resisted this advice on the ground that its contract is with NFLL and both in the article and memorandum of association of NFLL and the body of the broadcast right agreement TPL has with NFLL, the name of NANF never featured.

It will seem that remained the position of all parties until a new twist emerged within NANF.  Larry Kubenje and Harrison Ijalla are now said to have fallen bitterly apart.  Harrison now claims he is still the President of NANF and describes Larry Kubenje as an impostor at best.  Kubenje on the other hand, backed by the Legal Adviser of NANF, Belo A. Esq; the powerful Clubs Owners, led by Danladi and Alloy and as rumoured, the League Management Co. Ltd., led by convicted Shehu Dikko and equally convicted Salihu Abubakar is waxing stronger than Ijalla.  Besides, the EFCC’s position is that Kubenje who signed the petition on behalf of NANF as its Ag. President is the head of NANF as far as EFCC is concerned.

With this bitter division within NANF, the football world soon became aware of the payment of this money to NFLL, resulting in the proverbial saying that on the day the elephant dies, different knives will surface.  EFCC, having wrongfully satisfied itself that Baribote and Tunji Babalola who served as NFLL Chairman and Ag. Secretary respectively and were last in office mid 2013/2014 Premier League season, are now, 3 years after, adjudged by EFCC to be legally representing NFLL, a body that had no elected board of directors since December, 2012 when the then board led by Baribote was impeached by Congress of the Premier League Clubs.  EFCC subsequently is said to have then asked Total Promotions Ltd if NFLL is the rightful recipient of the money to which TPL agreed on the grounds that in line with NFLL articles and Memo and its subsisting broadcast right agreement, the money belongs to NFLL.  With this desired cover provided by TPL obtained, EFCC released the bank draft of N244 million to Tunji Babalola/Baribote on behalf of NFLL.

It is said that a long list of so-called former Directors, Chairmen of Clubs, Retired Football Players, Coaches at National Level, former League Club Owners Chairmen, etc emerged in which each name therein submitted all manners of unverified monetary claims to be paid to each person from this NFLL money.  This sordid scenario is deepened with an alleged claim of 20% commission by NANF for writing the petition.  On the face of it, this 20% commission amounts to N48million given the said sum EFCC passed on to NFLL is N244million!  Industry watchers are demanding to know if NANF was formally commissioned to write the petition with fees agreed between it and NFLL, prior to writing the petition!  And which board of NFLL so commissioned as there has been no elected board from 2013 till date.  Given this fact, NANF’s claim to N48million has no legal backing and because of the daggers drawn battle within the NANF camps of Kubenje and Ijalla, it is also pertinent to ask which of these two antagonistic NANF bodies will claim this N48million illegal bonanza!  Who in NANF are the beneficiaries?  Are there shadowy figures who have helped in pushing NANF petition waiting eagerly in the wings to eat up this money.

Football lovers are wondering why, if NFLL has such huge sums of funds available, it cannot pay N100million from it in order to save its Abuja corporate headquarters office building housing its Abuja offices from imminent bank creditors axe!!! Rumours have it that a known Top Executive of the LMC is alleged to have acquired this NFLL building to himself through surrogates hence no mention of the axe dangling on NFLL corporate office nor is there any attempt to push for part-payment from this N244million bonanza in order to save the building!!!!!  Add to this, the tragedy of all sorts of outdated football administrators etc. in a vulture-like manner waiting to swoop on this money to satisfy their selfish, greedy, illegal diversion of this money.  If nothing is done now to stop Zenith bank Abuja, Wuse 2 branch, from honouring the signatures of Babalola and Miss Ester, both of whom last signed NFLL cheque at least 2 years ago after which NFLL Zenith account became dormant, in a matter of days. The money will disappear.  The worrisome intention of the illegal actions of this motley crowd of league football executives inspite of NFLL article and memo, is to move this whole amount of N244million to the Lafia account of Club Owners Association (which other footbsll executives who are in the know say this Lafia account may just have been  recently opened) with the intention to receiving the amount and dividing this loot from there using the signatures of Danladi and Alloy.  If this Lafia attempt is successful, the money will wholly and illegally vanish without the Premier League body’s elected board being given the chance to determine how this money can best be deployed. 

 

N244 broadcast fund: NANPF takes over from NANF

Kano Pillars...are these issues in the best interest of the players?

*Pay players’ debt from funds recovered

*EFCC may face law suit for acting as debt recovery agency

Nigerians will recall that the controversial N244million that National Association of Nigerian Footballers (NANF) dragged the Total Promotion Nigeria Limited to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) being broadcast rights monies belonging to the Nigeria Football League Limited (NFLL) has taken a new dimension.

Sources disclosed that the EFCC was reputed to have released the bank draft that Total Promotion was forced to issue to the defunct NFLL team headed by Chief Victor Rumson Baribote and Tunji Babalola who respectively have paid it into a Zenith Bank account.

With a press statement signed by the rival players’ union, the National Association of Nigeria Professional Footballers (NANPF) said she “has deepened its communication further with the clubs indebted to players and coaches following monies recovered recently by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) for the clubs under the Nigeria Premier league (NPL) as Broadcast rights from Total Promotion.

“Following the advice of the leadership of the Nigeria Professional Football league Clubs Owners Association, whom the Players Union had earlier contacted,  the Union has communicated to all the concerned clubs on the need and for the sake of justice and fair play to ensue payment of their debts to the affected players and coaches from their share of the money as contained in the Nigeria Football Federation Players status and arbitration committee decisions and others authenticated by details of the contract of the players and coaches as attached.

With this statement, it is clear that NANF having gotten the fund, NANPF determines its spending. The Shola Popo led NANPF reminded the clubs that “since their complaints in the past was lack of funds to meet their contractual obligations to the players and coaches and further still comply with arbitration committee decisions, now that they will be getting their shares from the broadcast rights monies recovered by the EFCC which is generated from the collective image rights of the players and coaches, we strongly advise that part of the recovered money, if not all, should be used to settle the debts owed the players and coaches and avoid  the temptation of diverting such to individuals pockets.”

Sources disclosed to www.gongnews.net that certain debts had been computed by interested parties to share the said monies. However, alternative sources added that the NFLL Board led by Dr Sam Sam Jaja had intercepted the attempts to illegally withdraw the money which is hooked inside the ledges of the bank since those who made the initial attempts are no more in office and statutorily cannot access such funds again.

Third party sources also told www.gongnews.net that the EFCC having acted as debt recovery agency despite the fact that the matter is before a court of law may be facing new legal issues on the matter. This is because NANF which initiated the petition is not a party to the contract with the broadcast firm, Total Promotion.