The League Management Company of Nigeria (LMC),have on Wednesday recalled Giwa FC back into the Nigeria Football Professional League after they were expelled some months ago.
The decision came after a court in Jos ruled in favour of the Chris Giwa led team on Tuesday who have been challenging the LMC for discharging the team from participating in the league for missing three consecutive away games; which spells automatic expulsion.
An interim order from the court in Jos, Plateau state Nigeria, also directed the LMC to reschedule matches concerning the Jos side, which the league body confirmed that the process is presently been worked out.
Furthermore, players of Giwa FC who were allowed to join other clubs on a free transfer have all been directed by the LMC to return back to the team, while clubs that signed them have been warned not to feature them.
An official statement by the company on its official website on Wednesday read in part that it will “approach the court and have the interim order set aside and the suit dismissed by the court for being frivolous and without merits whatsoever.”
However, as a law abiding corporate entity, LMC has taken immediate steps to effect compliance with the directives of the Court, as contained in the Order, pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice. To this end, kindly be advised that:
a. Giwa FC has been restored to the NPFL Table, while further processes are being activated to reschedule the matches concerning the Club, in accordance with the NPFL Framework and Rules, 2015/2016 Season;
b. No club shall henceforth feature any player whose registration it acquired on the basis of the expulsion of Giwa FC, as all such registrations are withdrawn.
The Full statement by the LCM
INTERIM COURT ORDER
RE: EXPULSION OF GIWA FC FROM THE NIGERIA PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
17th August, 2016
Circular No.: 12/2016
To: All NPFL Clubs
Dear Club Chairmen/General Managers,
INTERIM COURT ORDER
RE: EXPULSION OF GIWA FC FROM THE NIGERIA PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Sequel to our earlier Circular No.
10/2016, dated 20th May 2016 and titled “Expulsion of Giwa FC from the
Nigeria Professional Football League”, we have on Tuesday, 16th August,
2016 been served with an interim court order issued by the High Court of
Justice of Plateau State, sitting at Jos. The order was made in a suit
filed by a certain Mustaphar Abubakar – claiming for be acting for
himself and on behalf of Giwa FC – who is praying the court to compel
LMC to restore Giwa FC to the NPFL, reschedule all matches of the Club
which previously had been duly cancelled, and direct to return to the
club all players who departed the club and registered for other clubs
upon its expulsion. The order was made ex parte (i.e. without the Court
having heard the LMC) and on an interim nature, with the return date of
23rd August, 2016, when the case would be heard.
We are of the view that this suit –
filed by a total stranger to the organisation and administration of
NPFL and who has never had any dealings or connection whatsoever with
LMC – is nothing but a disingenuous attempt to circumvent the binding
declaration made by Giwa FC on oath not to take football matters to
ordinary law court for adjudication, but to submit and be bound by the
processes and decisions of the internal adjudicatory mechanisms and
bodies duly constituted by the Rules governing football.
However, as a law abiding corporate
entity, LMC has taken immediate steps to effect compliance with the
directives of the Court, as contained in the Order, pending the hearing
and determination of the Motion on Notice. To this end, kindly be
advised that:
- Giwa FC has been restored to
the NPFL Table, while further processes are being activated to
reschedule the matches concerning the Club, in accordance with the NPFL
Framework and Rules, 2015/2016 Season; - No club shall henceforth
feature any player whose registration it acquired on the basis of the
expulsion of Giwa FC, as all such registrations are withdrawn.
Rest assured that LMC has taken legal
advice and precipitate steps to approach the Court and have the interim
order set aside and the suit dismissed by the Court for being frivolous
and without any merits whatsoever
The above is for your information and compliance.
Yours sincerely,
Shehu Dikko
Chairman, League Management Company Ltd.