25th January, 2012
Victor Rumson Baribote, the chairman of Nigeria Premier League, NPL, has expressed fears over the court judgement passed by Justice Donatus Okorowa of the Federal High Court, which declared the NPL illegal.
Baribote told P.M. Sports in Abuja that it is shocking to hear that in the same country where a competent court of jurisdiction had earlier ruled in favour of NPL to conduct an election into its board, only for another court to now declare the body illegal.
He stated that the court ruling still appears to be a rumour to him as he is yet to be served a copy of the judgement.
“I believe that it is just a rumour. I have not been served a copy of the judgement and until when I’m served then I will think of the next line of action. But it is shocking to hear the judgement declaring the NPL an illegal body. I think a court of competent jurisdiction has ruled that there should be an election to NPL board within 30 days and if there is any delay, it should not exceed 45 days, which was obeyed by the NPL. So if another court of jurisdiction now declared that body illegal, it’s shocking,” Baribote said.
The chairman of Bayelsa United further said that he was surprised that the NPL electoral contest that has long been settled is now turning into another crisis through Sam Jaja.
—Francis Achi/Abuja