Nigerian Football
NFF LAWYERS ALLEGE PERSECUTION AND PRESS TRIALS OF NFF MEN
Following the unfolding events concerning the running of football administration by the Nigeria Football Federation executives, their lawyers have issued a statement that NFF chieftains are being persecuted.
According to a four-page statement from the chambers of Mamman Nasir and co, the Special Presidential Investigative Panel (SPIP) headed by Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, was running an orchestrated media campaign against the NFF officials.
It went into the genesis of the event chronicling that on Saturday January 5 this year there was a syndicated story published in the online and print media that President Muhammadu Buhari had personally directed the prosecution of some “NFF elected officials for alleged but unspecified acts of corruption.”
The media release pointed out the presidency through its spokesperson, Garba Shehu, debunked the claim by stating that President Buhari had not ordered in any manner whatsoever that any NFF officials be prosecuted.
“However, on Monday the 7th day of January 2019 Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, the Chairman of the Special Presidential Investigative Panel (SPIP) granted a widely published radio interview stating that his Panel has established a prima facie case against the President of the NFF and certain officials of NFF.
“Chief Obono-Obla then went further to assert that his Panel will definitely arraign the named officials the next day, 8th January, 2019 and that he had ensured that their names were put on a travel ban list”, the four page statement initialed by Muhammad Sani Katu of the Mamman Nasir and co reports.
It continued that “curiously, a few hours after this radio interview by Chief Obono-Obla, documents were being published in a certain section of the media showing a ban list containing the names of the affected officials and the official covering letter from Chief Obono-Obla to the Immigration Service.
“On the said 8th January, 2019, our client sent legal representatives to the office of SPIP at Asokoro, Abuja to ascertain the exact circumstances of this rather strange public trial by Chief Obono-Obla, particularly as our client or the NFF officials had not been served any court charges or informed of any court arraignment date.
“Shockingly, it transpired subsequently, that no charge at all had been filed against our client, its President or any of NFF officials”, the NFF lawyers stated.
The statement reports that the Special Presidential Investigative Panel “unlawfully secured a warrant of arrest to effect the arrest of the affected NFF officials.
“It must be pointed out that while these publications of the news of the warrant of arrest started on Wednesday 9th January 2019, the date on the face of the eventually published warrant unlawfully obtained from a magistrate’s court in Abuja is Thursday 10th January 2019.
“The obvious conclusion here is that some interested persons have an unrestrained and direct access to Chief Obono-Obla, and have thus secured a front row seat that allows them a pre-knowledge of all steps to be taken by Chief Obono-Obla and or SPIP, which they gleefully publish ahead of these steps.”
The NFF lawyers stated further that “it is most curious that a warrant of arrest would be secured under obviously false grounds in these circumstances against our client’s officials, whose addresses are well known, when no invitation had been extended to these officials to appear at SPIP and have always cooperated fully with SPIP.
“Indeed as at the 8th January, 2019, Amaju Pinnick, President of NFF was in far away Senegal attending the AITEO-CAF continental awards ceremony, an international ceremony shown live on both Nigerian and international television.
“This fact was clearly communicated to officials of SPIP by the legal representatives sent by our client to SPIP office on Tuesday 8th January 2019.
“More grievous to the rights of our client and its officials is the fact that Chief Obono-Obla and SPIP went to secure a warrant of arrest from a magistrate court contrary to the clear provisions of the Recovery of Public Property (Special Provisions) Act, the law setting up the SPIP, that ONLY the Federal High Court is vested with the jurisdiction to issue warrants for the SPIP.
“It can only be concluded that this deviation was purposely to achieve the aim of avoiding the protection afforded everyone, including the affected NFF officials, under the same law that set up SPIP, which requires the SPIP to present a prima facie case to a judge of the Federal High Court to justify its case before a warrant of arrest may be issued under the hand of the judge.”
Continuing, the letter from the offices of Mamman Nasir and co states that “in the face of this obvious persecution and public show trial, our client took legal advice and lodged a petition with the office of the Hon. Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice as the overseeing ministry to SPIP for his intervention to ensure the due process of the Law adhered to.
“Our client and the affected NFF officials have also taken the additional step to file a suit, FC/ABJ/CS/17/2019 at the Federal High Court, Abuja Division (The only court statutory conferred with jurisdiction over SPIP matters under the enabling act).”
It explained that the “suit is to allow this whole sordid matter to be ventilated in the Court of the land and to check the oppression of our client and its officials.
“The office of the Hon. Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has been served with the originating Court Processes of the suit, and has duly acknowledged the service bringing to its notice the pendency of the suit.”
Mamman Nasir and co averred that “rather strangely, however, Chief Obono-Obla refused to accept service for himself, even though he is the 2nd Defendant on record in the suit. Instead, Chief Obono-Obla directed that all the processes be served at the Asokoro office of SPIP, after reading through the processes.
“Acting, in a similar fashion, the lawyer attached to SPIP, also refused to accept service for SPIP.”
The NFF lawyers then raised the following posers:
- What would motivate this obvious determined and desperate public persecution of our client and its officials, inspite of their innocence?
- Why would Chief Okoi Obono-Obla insist on personally directing the course of a supposed SPIP investigation in a manner that denies our client and its officials the protection of the presumption of their innocence?
- Why would Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, and his subordinate at SPIP refuse to accept service of originating court processes, when they are named parties to the suit?
- How is it to be explained to Nigerians that a public officer supposedly enforcing the law refuses to go before the court of law?
- What is the purpose of the unlawful warrant of arrest obtained under these highly questionable circumstances, when no charge has been filed against our client and affected NFF officials or who have not been shown to have refused or failed to attend SPIP?
- Why has an online media mob been unleashed on our client and the affected NFF officials to avidly promote the pre-determined media reportage of the activities of Chief Obon-Obla and SPIP and ceaselessly tag the stories to His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR); the Presidency and its media aides, the ruling party, APC; the opposition parties; EFCC; ICPC; FIFA, CAF and their officials, among others? Is this to achieve a pre-determined purpose?
Mamman Nasir and co then stated that his chambers has “reserved for the consideration of the Federal High Court other more involving questions regarding the powers and legality of Chief Obono-Obla and SPIP to even investigate and institute prosecution proceedings against our client and the affected NFF officials in the first place.
The lawyers then wondered why the NFF case was made special. The lawyers wrote: “In the same vein it must appear curious that of the myriads of cases being investigated by SPIP, it is the NFF and clearly targeted officials that are subjected to this sustained media trial and persecution.”
By Kunle Solaja, Ikenne
Former champions Bayelsa United and Wikki Tourists have been relegated from the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) after dramatic Matchday 37 defeats left the title race and survival battle heading into a tense final day on May 24.
At the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Bayelsa United suffered a 2-1 defeat to Remo Stars despite taking an early lead through Ofem Nneoyi in the seventh minute. The striker raced through on goal before calmly finishing past goalkeeper Adebiyi Obassa.
Remo Stars responded before the break when Alex Oyowah rose highest to head home the equaliser five minutes before halftime. Veteran forward Victor Mbaoma then struck the decisive goal in the 64th minute to hand the hosts a crucial victory that preserved their hopes of top-flight survival.
In Bauchi, Wikki Tourists twice led against Rivers United but eventually crashed 3-2 at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium in a pulsating encounter that also kept the title race alive until the final day.
Jonathan Mairiga gave Wikki the lead in the 21st minute before Handsome Surveyor restored parity for Rivers United in the 34th minute. Imamu Bala put Wikki ahead again four minutes into the second half, but Chijioke Mbaoma levelled for the visitors before Taofeek Otaniyi netted the dramatic winner in the 85th minute.
Rivers United’s late winner proved decisive for the championship race. For much of the afternoon, the Rangers looked set to clinch the title after establishing what had become a four-point lead while Rivers were trailing in Bauchi.
However, Rivers United’s comeback reduced Rangers’ advantage to just one point, ensuring the battle for the NPFL crown will be settled on the final day of the season.
Rangers, the only NPFL club never to have suffered relegation, edged Bendel Insurance 2-1 in Enugu to stay top of the table on 65 points. Godwin Obaje scored twice for the Flying Antelopes, while Alex Oweilayefa grabbed Bendel Insurance’s goal.
Rivers United remain second on 64 points and will host Katsina United on the final day, while Rangers travel to Lagos for a difficult encounter against Ikorodu City.
The race for continental qualification also intensified after Shooting Stars defeated Barau FC 1-0 in Ibadan courtesy of Lucky Emmanuel’s first-half strike. The Oluyole Warriors climbed to third place with 60 points.
Ikorodu City, however, suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat away to Katsina United. Jamilu Yusuf scored twice for the hosts, while Azeez Falolu and Daniel Agara added further goals. Abayomi Ayodeji scored Ikorodu City’s lone goal.
Kano Pillars boosted their survival hopes with a narrow 1-0 win over Warri Wolves thanks to a Rabiu Ali penalty, while Federation Cup holders Kwara United defeated Enyimba 2-0 through Bright Babatunde’s first-half brace.
In Lafia, Nasarawa United beat Plateau United 1-0 with Jofrank Istifanus scoring the only goal, though the result was not enough to keep them in contention for a continental ticket.
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the round came in Aba, where Kun Khalifat stunned Abia Warriors 2-0. Uchechukwu Onuoha scored both goals to move the newcomers closer to securing another season in the NPFL.
El-Kanemi Warriors and Niger Tornadoes played out a goalless draw in Maiduguri.
With one round of matches remaining, Rangers lead the standings on 65 points, one ahead of Rivers United, while Bayelsa United and Wikki Tourists are confirmed as the two relegated sides
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Nigerian Football
Ever-Present Falconets Qualify for 2026 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup Despite Malawi Scare
Nigeria’s U20 girls, the Falconets, once again underlined their status as Africa’s most consistent side at youth level after sealing qualification for the 2026 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Poland despite a nervy 2-1 defeat to Malawi’s Young Scorchers in Lilongwe on Saturday.
The seven-time African champions progressed 3-2 on aggregate, relying on the crucial 2-0 first-leg victory secured in Ikenne a week earlier through an own goal by Malawi defender Maureen Kenneth and a fine strike from Kindness Ifeanyi.
The qualification means Nigeria have maintained their remarkable record of appearing at every edition of the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup since the competition was introduced.
Backed by a passionate home crowd in Lilongwe, the Young Scorchers came out aggressively and quickly put the Falconets under pressure. Their persistence paid off early in the first half when a defensive mix-up in the Nigerian backline allowed a Malawian attacker to head home the opener and spark hopes of an unlikely comeback.
Nigeria almost responded immediately through the lively Kindness Ifeanyi, whose dangerous delivery from the right flank found Favour Nkwocha inside the area. However, Nkwocha’s powerful effort crashed against the woodwork as the hosts carried a 1-0 lead into halftime.
The tension intensified 10 minutes after the restart when another lapse in Nigeria’s defence gifted Malawi a second goal, drawing the tie level at 2-2 on aggregate and placing the Falconets’ proud qualification streak in serious danger.
With the momentum shifting towards the hosts, Falconets coach Moses Aduku turned to his bench for inspiration, and substitute Precious Oscar delivered at the decisive moment.
Oscar capitalised on hesitation in the Malawian defence in the 62nd minute, dispossessing an opponent before calmly slotting past the goalkeeper to hand Nigeria a priceless away goal and restore their aggregate advantage.
The strike silenced the home crowd and ultimately proved decisive as the Falconets showed composure and resilience in the closing stages to protect their lead and confirm another appearance on the global stage.
Although the defeat marked a rare away setback for Aduku’s side after impressive victories in Rwanda and Senegal earlier in the qualifying campaign, the Falconets achieved their primary mission of securing qualification for the world finals.
The 2026 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup will be held in Poland from September 5 to 26.
Following the match, the Nigerian delegation expressed appreciation to Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Malawi, Ambassador Ibrahim Miringa, and the staff of the Nigerian mission in Malawi for their hospitality and support throughout the team’s stay in the southern African nation.
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Sporting Lagos have emerged champions of the 2026 Nigeria National League (NNL) after edging city rivals Inter Lagos on goal difference at the end of the season-ending Super Four tournament in Ikenne, Ogun State.
The competition concluded on Friday at the Remo Stars Stadium with a dramatic Lagos derby that saw Inter Lagos defeat Sporting Lagos 1-0 on the final day.
Despite the loss, the “Tech Boys” still claimed the NNL title and the accompanying ₦10 million prize money after finishing top of the standings on superior goal difference.
Sporting Lagos entered the decisive Matchday Three needing only a draw to secure the crown, but their commanding earlier performances proved decisive. They had opened the Super Four campaign with a 1-0 victory over Ranchers Bees before producing the tournament’s most emphatic result with a 4-0 demolition of Doma United.
Inter Lagos also finished the competition on six points after recovering from an opening 1-0 defeat to Doma United. They responded with a 1-0 win over Ranchers Bees before securing the derby triumph against Sporting Lagos.
Ranchers Bees and Doma United finished third and fourth respectively, completing the quartet of clubs that have secured promotion to the 2026/27 Nigeria Premier Football League season.
For Sporting Lagos, the Super Four triumph represents a strong statement ahead of their return to top-flight football, while Inter Lagos will also head into the elite division with confidence after an impressive finish to the tournament.
The final day of the competition provided an entertaining atmosphere at the Remo Stars Stadium, with the well-organised event offering a glimpse of what fans can expect from the newly promoted clubs in the coming NPFL campaign.
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