Skip to main content

Court blasts NFF, LMC, stops Nigerian league over Giwa FC

Nigerian Professional Football League has been suspended indefinitely until the LMC fully complies with the earlier order of reinstating Giwa FC back to the league.

Justice I.I Kunda in his ruling delivered at the Plateau State High Court which sat in Bukuru, near Jos on Wednesday decried the delay tactics being employed by the counsel to the LMC, Olumide Olujimi, to delay the case knowing fully well that the Nigerian league is time bound, and the league would have effectively ended before the case is determined.

The judge declared the case adjourned sine dine but also told the defendants that they can proceed with their appeal at the Appeal Court if they so wish.

It would be recalled that sequel to the expulsion of Giwa Football Club of Jos, a State High Court sitting in Bukuru, Jos, Plateau State, had granted the prayers of the Club seeking it’s reinstatement to the Nigerian Professional Football League.

Counsel to Giwa FC, SD Ekara, had tabled five prayers before the Court which includes, “That the NFF and LMC be restrained from further organizing any matches pending the hearing of the motion on notice, Interlocutory injunction compelling the LMC to reschedule all matches Giwa FC did not play as a result of the purported expulsion, Injunction recalling all Giwa FC players summarily released and signed by other clubs, Restoration of Giwa FC to the league pending the hearing of the motion on notice and such other pronouncements as the court may deem fit”.

In a judgement delivered by vacation judge, Justice I.I. Kunda, on the 12th of August, 2016, the League Management Company and the Nigerian Football Federation were restrained from restraining Giwa Football Club from playing matches in the Nigerian Professional Football League pending the determination of the motion on notice.

The Judge also ordered the first and second respondents to reschedule all the matches that Giwa FC failed to play as a result of its purported expulsion from the league.

The LMC was also ordered to immediately return all the players of Giwa FC that were summarily released and signed by other clubs.

Meanwhile the LMC has reacted saying: “For the avoidance of any doubt, LMC states categorically, that it has not been served with any such order and is consequently unable to comment on this matter. If such an order is at any time in the future produced or served on it by due process of law, LMC wishes all our Clubs, footballers, fans, partners and all Nigerians to be reassured that it shall take all steps appropriate in the circumstances to protect the integrity of the NPLF.”

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Chelsea preparing world-record Bonucci bid

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovic has told manager Antonio Conte that a January move for Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci could be on the cards. According to reports from the Telegraph, the Russian businessman is prepared to bankroll a number of new signings in the New Year as the Blues look to retain the Premier League trophy. Bonucci would command a world-record fee for a defender, expected to be in the region of £50 million, should he move to Stamford Bridge.

Turkey bomb victims ‘mostly children’surviving

Most of the victims of the bombing of a Kurdish wedding party in the Turkish city of Gaziantep on Saturday were children, media reports have said. Twenty-nine victims were under the age of 18, reports said, with one official saying 22 were under the age of 14. The death toll rose to 54 yesterday. The suicide bomber himself was a child aged between 12 and 14, President Recep Tayyip One woman lost four children in the attack, Emine Arhan, said yesterday: “If it wasn’t for my only surviving child, I would have killed myself.” Another victim was a nine-year-old girl who had stayed on at the party to see the bride after her parents had left, according to reports. A disproportionately large number of women and children were killed in the attack because it targeted henna night, a part of the celebration attended mainly by women and children. Turkish officials said the type of bomb used, which contained scraps of metal, was similar to those used in previous attacks on pro-Kurdish gatherings. ...

Conte: Chelsea must learn to kill matches

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte says his side must learn to kill off matches quicker following their 3-2 League Cup win over Bristol Rovers. Michy Batshuayi scored two goals either side of a Victor Moses strike at Stamford Bridge to send the home side into the third round, but they were given a fright when the visitors twice halved a two-goal deficit through Peter Hartley and an Ellis Harrison penalty. The victory is Conte's third in competitive matches as Chelsea boss, following 2-1 wins over West Ham and Watford in the Premier League - both of which came about thanks to late goals from Diego Costa. And the former Italy boss wants his players to become more ruthless in their approach in order to prevent similarly nervy encounters in future. "These games are very tough," he told BBC Radio London Sport. "When you dominate the game, you must kill the game. In this case, we didn't do this. "It's a pity because when you're playing very well, creating a lot...