By: Gracious Akujobi The Emergency Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation rose from a meeting on Thursday, 10th October, 2013, saying it has decided to
temper justice with mercy by ordering Kwara United FC of Ilorin to
Lokoja for its remaining home matches in the 2012/2013 Premier League
season
This follows a special appeal by the Ilorin-based club against the
decision of the NFF Appeals Committee which, after deliberating on the
Kwara United FC/Warri Wolves League match at its meeting of Thursday,
3rd October, 2013, banished the Club to play its remaining home
matches in Abuja, added to the forfeiture of three points and three
goals and a fine of Three Million Naira Only.
It was the unanimous position of the Emergency Committee that the
penalty of forfeiture of three points and three goals and fine of
Three Million Naira Only was in order, but that the Club should play
its remaining home matches in Lokoja on leniency premise.
In the letter of special appeal dated 8th October, 2013, the Club
humbly requested for consideration to play its home matches at home or
in any other neighbouring State, as a result of “high cost of living
in Abuja, and the financial commitment of match logistics, coupled
with the financial challenges facing almost all Government-financed
Clubs.”
Present at the meeting were NFF President, Aminu Maigari, Vice President, Mike Umeh, Executive Committee members Emeka Inyama, Muazu Suleyman, Yusuf Ahmed Fresh and Ahmad Kawu, and General Secretary, Barrister Musa Amadu.
Article 41 of the NFF Statutes contends that “the Emergency Committee
shall deal with all matters requiring immediate settlement between two
meetings of the Executive Committee. The Committee shall consist of
the President of NFF and five (5) members chosen from the Executive
Committee for a period of two (2) years.”
