By Adedapo Adesanya
The Board of the League Management Company (LMC) Limited has called for calm over the purported demand for the withdrawal of its licence, stating that it was engaging with the federal government and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) toward a resolution.
The body in a statement seen by Business Post on Tuesday insisted that it is legally situated both in football laws/regulations (NFF and FIFA Statutes) and Nigeria corporate laws (CAC Act).
The management company said its attention has been drawn to a media release from the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development (FMYSD) to the effect that the federal government has declared the LMC “illegal”.
It urged stakeholders to remain calm while it engages the Ministry in conjunction with the NFF.
The LMC board also expressed distress at seeing the FYMSD come up with the public statement/position without first engaging the LMC/NFF to discuss any concerns or information regarding the LMC Limited so as to hear from the other side and enable it to come to a balanced position.
The LMC insisted that “there is absolutely no court order or proceedings declaring the LMC as illegal. Likewise, there is no challenge in any court to the legal status of LMC.”
Tracking the formation and registration of the company, it noted that “for the avoidance of doubt, LMC Ltd was duly and properly formed in 2013 with all due processes adhered with both football laws/regulations and Nigeria’s Corporate Affairs Laws (Companies and Allied Matters).
“Subsequently, the NFF Executive Committees at its meeting of 8th October 2014 in Abuja and the NFF Congress (the Supreme Legislative body of the NFF) at its meeting of 23rd November 2014 in Lagos duly approved the LMC Supplementary Regulations/Governing Structure pursuant to the powers vested on the Congress under the NFF Statutes (article 18 and article 78 subsection 2 and 3) as well as FIFA Statutes (articles 17 and 18) to delegate the right to an independent/subordinate body to manage/ organise its competitions (NPFL inclusive).”
It said, the LMC LTD is not a private body as has been misrepresented but a not-for-profit company duly formed by the NFF and the participating NPFL clubs in accordance with their powers as enshrined in the extant NFF Statutes.
It also claimed that this was simply about a judgement debt obtained in 2012 by Emmanuel Oboh/Emanuel Oboh & Associates against the NFL Ltd (originating from legal services he claimed to have rendered NFL Ltd between 2008 and 2010) which he sought to enforce against the LMC Ltd) in 2013, after its formation.
LMC won the court matter at the High Court (January 21, 2014) and at the Court of Appeal (June 24, 2016).
However, the Supreme Court set aside these lower court judgements based on some technicalities on January 28, 2022, and made the Garnishee order absolute simply implying First Bank Plc is liable to take any available money in LMC Ltd accounts.
The LMC then acknowledged “the passion and concerns the Minister of Sports have exhibited over time in trying to push for the development of not only the NPFL but football in Nigeria and believes that with proper engagements, the right synergy will be achieved to drive this process forward.”
Dipo Olowookere