Sports
LMC Fines Ex-Eagles Star, Officials
The League Management
Company (LMC) last week said it had sanctioned two senior club officials, a coach and 12 match officials, including four referees and eight assistant referees.
In a statement, LMC said the 15 of them were charged under the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) rules for various acts considered inimical to the good of the game.
“The General Manager of FC Taraba of Jalingo, Tijani Babangida, and that of Heartland FC of Owerri, Okechukwu Ibe who is also a Director of LMC, have been fined N50,000 and N200,000 respectively.
“They were sanctioned for comments and behaviour which were in breach of some sections of the Code of Conduct for club officials under the NPFL rules,’’ the league organising body said.
LMC similarly said Abia Warriors’ Head Coach Ladan Bosso was fined N50,000 for comments it ruled to be in breach of regulations.
It said this was in line with Article 14 of the Code of Conduct for coaches and managers and Article C1 of the Framework and Rules of the NPFL.
“Babangida and Bosso were punished for public comments against referees, comments considered capable of bringing the league to disrepute, while Ibe was charged for acts capable of bringing the league to disrepute.
“This included excessive complaints against the referee during Heartland FC’s Match Day 11 fixture against Enyimba International.
“Babangida’s charge followed his comments to the media on the Match Day 11 fixture between El-Kanemi Warriors and FC Taraba, even after he had followed the official channels to lay a complaint about the officiating.
“This was even after he was aware that his complaint was being dealt with.
“Bosso’s charge is in relation to comments he made to the media against the referee after the Match Day 12 fixture between Rangers and Abia Warriors.
“The LMC believes he failed to act in an ethical and professional manner, in the best interest of the game, and he made statements capable of bringing the game to disrepute,” the statement said.
The LMC then asked all those sanctioned to within 48 hours accept the respective sanctions imposed or elect to defend themselves before a commission.
“They have all accepted the charges and apologised,’’ it said in the statement.
The LMC said it had also forwarded the cases of the match officials to the Referees Appointment Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
“We have requested that the listed officials’ performances be reviewed and they should be dropped from further officiating NPFL games, pending the conclusion of the review of their performance in some matches.
“In referring the case to the Committee, the LMC expressed dissatisfaction with their performances in some fixtures of Match Days 11 and 12,’’ the statement said.
It said referee Jerry Akure from Benue and his assistants, Aliyu Jingi of Bauchi State and Garba Musa from Yobe, were charged for below par handling of a match.
The match was the Match Day 11 fixture in Umuahia between Abia Warriors and Sunshine Stars.
“Referee Maaji Mohammed and his assistants Abbas J. and Alfa Gimba, all of Niger Referees Council, were charged for poor officiating in the fixture between El-Kanemi Warriors and FC Taraba, also on Match Day 11.
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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