Sports
NFF Finds Baribote Guilty Of Misconducts
A committee set up by the
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has said Victor Baribote, one of the association’s former vice-chairmen, was guilty of disobedience.
Baribote, a former Chairman of the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) and ex-NFA Second Vice-Chairman, had accused the association’s leadership of misconduct.
He had sent a petition on this to world football governing body FIFA, with the Zurich-based body asking the NFA to investigate the allegation instead.
The NFA then set up a committee headed by Emeka Inyama, one of its board members and Chairman of its Media and Publicity Committee.
Inyama, while presenting the committee’s report to the NFA leadership, said Baribote had contravened various articles in the football statutes which preached fair play.
“In Baribote’s letter to FIFA, he claimed that he was still the chairman of the NPL.
“We saw from evidence available that, sometime in December 2012, he was impeached by the Congress of Premier League Club Owners in Abuja and those evidences were tendered.
“How come six months after, he was writing as if he was still the Chairman of the NPL, whereas the same Baribote submitted himself to the authority of the League Management Company (LMC).
“He took the LMC to court, but he participated in their meetings, one of which was a representation to Nigerian football.
“Baribote was seated there and we found it embarrassing and confusing.
“He went to court against LMC and NFA, and against the course which he was promoting, collected N10. 5 million from the LMC, being a share of revenue from league sponsorship.
“Yet he was in court with the same people, we did not understand that,’’ Inyama claimed.
He also said one Mrs Baribote was the true representative of Nembe City FC of Bayelsa, contrary to the make-belief of Victor Baribote that he was in charge.
“The authorities of Nembe City FC, as we know by the books, is one Mrs Baribote, and legally Mrs Baribote representing Nembe City is not the same thing as Rumson Victor Baribote.
“So, we found this contradicting.
“We found out that the letter he sent to FIFA was in bad faith and taste and we referred to articles 2, 4, 7, 10, 12 and 34.
“These are relevant articles of the NFA that authorised its chairman to set up this committee to look into this matter,’’ Inyama said
The committee chairman said the recommendations of the committee were however being kept secret until the NFA board had seen it and approved it.
He said every other relevant stakeholders linked to the matter appeared before the committee, including Aminu Maigari, the NFA chairman, while Baribote failed to appear.
“Baribote’s refusal to appear before the committee amounted to disobedience of constituted football authorities in the country and will deserve any punishment his action attracts,’’ Inyama said.
Maigari, while receiving the report, commended the committee, saying it was set up based on merit.
“The laws of football will take its course in the administration of football in the country, as no member of the football family has the right to digress.
“We all know that we operate football by guidelines. There are laid-down procedures that govern the game of football, which not one member of the family has the right to digress from.
“So, that is why we set up this committee to study this matter and advise the NFA board on the way forward.
“I assure that the board will sit down and thoroughly study the proposals and advice. We will leave no stone unturned at ensuring that every advice given will be utilised,’’ he said.
NAN reports that Felix Anyansi-Agwu, Ahmad Kawu, who are NFA board members, and Richard Jideaka who is a sports journalist were the other members of the committee.
Port Harcourt the capital city of Rivers State will be at the centre stage in Nigeria as Port Harcourt Arsenal Community will hold her maiden edition of Football Fans Fiesta (FFF).
The Fiesta scheduled to hold on the 13th December, 2025, at Eddiz wine bar GRA, promises to be all football fans carnival in the State , as there will be a lot of fanfares.
The Coordinator of Port Harcourt Arsenal Community (PHAC), Ugochukwu Oputa has said that the forthcoming Football Fans Fiesta was basically to promote peace, unity and love among football fans in irrespective of the cub.
He stated that sports is a catalyst to bring peace, love and Unity in any given society, hence the occasion was initiated.
Oputa said this in an interview with sports journalists in Port Harcourt yesterday, saying that arrangements are on top gear for a successful programme.
” This event is for all football fans irrespective of your club. It is basically to promote peace, love and Unity among fans.
“It is like stating the obvious that football is the catalyst of peace and unity in the world. So the Port Harcourt Arsenal Community want to use this avenue to bring people together and foster friendship.
“There is no gate fee, but it is expected to put on jersey of your club as to make the event look unique” Oputa said.
The Coordinator used the forum to advice football fans in the world to love one another, and equally urged fans that will attend the occasion to be of good conduct and behaviour.
Tonye Orabere
Consistent with its project execution routine, Dunamis-Icon Limited, Project Consultants of the Niger Delta Games, has concluded the first phase of physical inspection and evaluation of facilities for the event, 24 hours after the presentation of the hosting right to Edo State was performed.
The project management team was guided round select facilty locations in Benin City by Desmond Amadin Enabulele, Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, and the team leader, Sir Itiako Ikpokpo expressed satisfaction with the sports infrastructure assets of the host.
“Edo is a ready-made choice based on all the factors that are necessary to host this kind of big event. We are expecting over 3000 athletes coaches, alongside journalists and technical officials, with an approximate number of people outside spectators in the range of 5000. So, we need facilities that work for the games itself”, Ikpokpo explained.
He commended the Edo State Government for the good state of facilities at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, and promised that the state will be assisted with the renovation of some of the facilities as may be necessary to ensure good competition experience for the athletes.
“I have been to the iconic Ogbe Stadium and must commend the Edo State Government for maintaining the facilities there. We are also considering taking some events to the University of Benin, so that people in that part of the city can also feel and enjoy the fun. Where need be, we will also see how to assist the state and the University of Benin to add value to some of the sporting facilities”.
Dunamis Icon Limited is the franchise rights owner to the games conceived and designed to provide a platform for unity and integration, and identifying and grooming talented youths from the region into national and international stars.
The NDDC as the flagship interventionist agency for the nine states that make up the region, is the prime sponsor of the games as part of their strategic focus on youth engagement and human capital development.
The inspection tour began at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, after a brief meeting with Enabulele and the Sports Commission team at his office.
Areas inspected include the stadium’s main bowl, the tartan track, the state box, the VIP lounges and other key areas like the ceremonial room, the media studio and other indoor facilities.
Other facility locations assessed are the Wire Road Sports Centre being listed to host basketball and volleyball games, the University of Benin Sports Complex, and the Etete Sports Centre.
In the entourage of Dunamis-Icon were the Project Director, Mr Fred Edoreh; Director of Facilities and Equipment, Dr Emmanuel Ochuko Igbigbisie; the head of Communications, Harry Iwuala; Head of Transport and Logistics, Israel Umueri Afoke. Others are Theresa Ineke, Head of Secretariat, Godwin Enakhena, the Head of Scouting, Mr. Edi Lawani, the Head of Culture Affairs and Entertainment and Elder Siegha Porbeni of the Technical Department.
The Edo Sports Commission Chairman was also supported by Hon. Frank Ilaboya and Mrs Sabina Chikere, Executive Directors, with Mr Baldwin Bazuaye (MON) also in the company.
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