By Mark Baber
August 14 – Central to recent disputes between leading stakeholders in Nigerian football and the recent FIFA suspension of Nigeria, has been the long-running dispute between Victor Runson Baribote and members of the Nigerian football hierarchy. The Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has now taken action to bring the feud to a close, officially lifting the 15 year ban it had placed on the former Nigeria Professional Football League Chairman.
In a statement issued after its executive committee meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, the NFF confirmed that; “After exhaustive deliberations, the committee unanimously decided to lift bans of various lengths placed on the following members of Nigeria football family: Rumson Baribote, Olaleye Adepoju, Jarrett Tenebe and Olajide Fashikun.
“The ban on former Member of NFF Executive Committee, Taiwo Ogunjobi will be lifted once communication is received from the Court of Arbitration for Sport that he has withdrawn his case. Other banned persons will have their cases reviewed as soon as they appear before the Committee.
“Following from the above, Olaleye Adepoju will, with immediate effect, retake the chairmanship of Oyo State Football Association and his seat on the Executive Committee of Nigeria Football Federation. Also, Chidi Ofor Okenwa retakes his seat as chairman of Enugu State Football Association.”
It is understood that Mrs Baribote, who brought the case which led to FIFA suspending the NFF, agreed to withdraw her case in exchange for her husband’s ban being lifted.
Despite not being restored to his old position as NPFL chairman, Baribote told local media: “I believe I have been vindicated because the same complaints I made to FIFA are the same things used by the present NFF board to impeach Alhaji Aminu Maigari from office.”
“When I wrote to FIFA’s General Secretary, Jerome Valcke,” Baribote added, ” I requested for the income and approvals made by the (present) board (of the NFF).
“Thank God those are the same things they have used (in impeaching Maigari) so in all, I think it’s victory for football.”
Baribote had been banned by an investigative committee set up by the NFF when it was under the control of Maigari. It is now Maigari who, since his impeachment, finds himself out in the cold, though no doubt he will be looking to make a comeback soon.
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