NPFL Club Owners Condemn Failed Attempt to Abduct LMC Chairman

Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Club Owners have condemned with dismay the attempt to abduct the Chairman of the League Management Company (LMC), Shehu Dikko by some persons claiming to be said to be security  operatives acting n the orders of the FCT Police Command.

The attempted abduction took place at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja as Dikko and the delegation of the victorious Super Eagles returned to Nigeria after defeating Zambia 2-1 on Sunday in a Russia 2018 World Cup qualifier.

In a statement signed by the Chairman,Barrister Isaac Danladi and Alloy Chukwuemeka, Executive Secretary of the body of leadership of the umbrella of NPFL Clubs, the action of the security operatives negates the rule of law and due court process as the masters are subject of appeals, and HAS INDEED CAUSED SERIOUS EMBARRASSMENT TO THE ENTIRE FOOTBALL FAMILY IN NIGERIA.  

"We are aware that at the last sitting of the Court of Appeal in Jos Plateau state on September 26, 2016,   the matter of CONTEMPT OF COURT and committal and other related cases came up for hearing and there was a clear pronouncement that no attempt should be made to tamper with the subject matter of the appeal filed by the LMC against the orders of Hon.  Justice II Kunda of the Jos high court.

"At that same hearing, Barrister Habila Ardzard representing the other party to the case  CLAIMED IGNORANCE OF ANY ATTEMPT TO ENFORCE ANY COURT ORDER and Further gave an undertaking that his clients will not attempt to tamper with the subject matter of the Appeal, by acting to enforce any such order, pending the hearing of the case by the Court of Appeal.

"We are therefore surprised that this strong arm tactics was adopted again to illegally abduct  Mr. Dikko against the orders of a superior court and wish to condemn it in the strongest terms", the Club Owners declared. 

The Club Owners argued that those persons could not be acting on genuine security instructions given that the Office of the Inspector General of Police acknowledged the complaint by the LMC on the illegal raid of its premises and harassment of the Chairman. 

"There is the need for law enforcement authorities to publicly state that it has no orders of any court to arrest LMC Officers on contempt of court charges and warn its operatives to desist from this illegal activities", the NPFL Clubs demanded.

The LMC consolidated appeal against various orders of the Jos High Court, to which the clubs are also joined , will come up for hearing on Tuesday, October 11 at the Appeal Court in Jos, Plateau State.‎