The Supreme Court on Monday struck out two motions by Chris Giwa and his group seeking to stay the execution of the ruling of the Court of Appeal baring one Mr. Oba Maduabuchi from appearing before it on behalf of Giwa and his group, and the judgement of the same court vacating the orders of the Federal High Court re-listing the case and restoring the orders.
Giwa, proprietor of Giwa FC of Jos, has been in and out of court against Nigeria football in the past 28 months, sustaining his quest even after a celebrated loss at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland.
On Monday, Justices at Nigeria’s highest court were of the view that the said Oba Maduabuchi cannot appear in the case until the ruling of the Court of Appeal refusing him audience is vacated.
Giwa’s lawyers immediately saw the futility of the twin applications and withdrew same, and the Supreme Court promptly struck out both applications.
Giwa and a member of his group, Yahaya Adama, were both in court on Monday when the Supreme Court made the ruling.
It would be recalled that on Monday, 25th July 2016, the Court of Appeal, Jos Judicial Division, had thrown out Giwa’s case, vacating the order of the Federa High Court of the same division that re-listed the case and restored earlier orders.
LMC COO, Abubakar, five others appointed CAF Club licensing instructors
Salihu Abubakar, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the League Management Company (LMC) tops the list of five Nigerians appointed as Instructors into the 2017-2019 cycle of Confederation of African Football (CAF) Club Licensing.
Abubakar and former Nigeria Football Federation 1st Vice Chairman, Amanze Uchegbulam were listed as Instructorsev for the Administrative, Legal and Financial Criteria, the most critical aspect of Club Licensing regulation usually rated A and which meant requirements under these are compulsory.
Club Licensing was initiated in Nigeria by the LMC at the start of the 2013/14 season preparatory to the deadline of the 2014/15 season set by CAF. The NFF at the December 2014 Annual General Meeting in , ratified and adopted the Licensing Document which prepared the grounds for clubs in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) to meet CAF requirements for participation in CAF organized club tournaments.
It will also be recalled that both FIFA and CAF had cause to commend the work done by the LMC in domesticating the global Licensing requirement in the operations of the NPFL and recommended the model to other countries especially in Asia and Africa. This followed presentations made by Abubakar at a FIFA/CAF Club Licensing summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia earlier this year.
Pioneer Chairman of the LMC, Hon. Nduka Irabor, who initiated Club Licensing in the NPFL described the development as good for football administration in Nigeria, noting that “the practical experience to be acquired by the Nigerians in the course of implementing the licensing requirements on the continent will be of great value to the NPFL”.
Four other Nigerians including former NFF President, Retired General Dominic Oneya, General Secretary, Dr. Bolaji Ojo-Oba, Chairman of Akwa United and CAF Security Officer, Paul Bassey and Samson Adamu, a CAF Match Coordinator.
