Why We Are In Financial Mess – NPL

The Nigerian Premier League Board (NPL) has given reasons why it is in financial crisis which led to the sealing of its corporate headquarters by the Abuja Environmental Protection Agency (AEPB). NPL Head of Media, Isaac Ibhafidon said yesterday that the reason was because of the problem it had with some of its investments, one of which was the N200 million properties for its permanent office at Garki area of Abuja.

He denied that there was any form of reckless spending by the board, which also led to the delay of salaries of its staff. Ibhafidon admitted that though the staff were being owed, all arrears would be cleared.

Ibhafidon also said that he closure of the NPL office by AEPB was based on a “minor misunderstanding. They made a mistake but we have settled it and the amount we owed has been settled.” He however, refused to mention how much was paid to vacate the sealing up of the premises order.

On the allegations that some of the cheques isused on its Equatorial Trust Bank account had bounced and returned, Ibhafidon said “None of the cheques issued bounced. How can we issue cheques when there is no money in the account? When there is crisis, people just cook up stories and this is just another lie,” observed the NPL head of media.

The AEPB had sealed off NPL office located at the highbrow Asokoro district of the Federal capital city due to non-payment of mere sanitation fees.

The NPL appeared in an Abuja magistrate court yesterday on the matter. It explained why it failed to comply with the earlier directives. The AEPB had hinged its power to seal up the property based on its 1997 Act.

The agency disclosed on the warrant to seal the premises that, “upon hearing counsel to the prosecution, and after being satisfied that the bill of charges was served on the accused person but remain unpaid and summons to appear before this court was served twice (June 23 and May 7th, 2009), respectively but the accused neglected or failed to answer the summons.