Nigeria Content Online

Justice
Binta Murtala-Nyako of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos yesterday
adjourned hearing on the suit brought before her by Total Promotions
challenging plans by the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) to start a fresh
bidding process for sponsorship rights to the country’s top flight
division.

The suit will now come up for hearing on February 14 at the same venue.

Total Promotions
had represented telecommunication company, MTN in an initial bid
exercise conducted from December 15 to 16, 2010 in Abuja. The company
eventually won the bid with a sponsorship package worth 2.6 billion
naira.

However, an
extraordinary congress of the Nigeria Premier League convened in Abuja
on January 26, ruled that the process that led to the emergence of MTN
as the league’s title sponsor was flawed and subsequently ordered for a
fresh bid process.

The congress also
ruled that the fresh bid process must be conducted not later than two
weeks from the date of their pronouncement. But the ongoing litigation
stalled the move.

Anti-graft agency summons Obaseki

While the court
cases are still pending, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
has summoned six former and current Premier League officials to answer
questions on an alleged sponsorship scam totalling over three billion
naira (about $20 million).

The officials for
questioning include, former NPL boss, Oyuiki Obaseki and the current
chairman, Davidson Owumi. Others invited by the commission are
Al-Hassan Yakmut, the NPL’s former executive secretary; Shehu Gusau,
the NPL’s vice-chairman, as well as Joe Amene and Total Promotions’
chief executive, Niyi Alonge.

“They have been
told to report to the EFCC office in Abuja on Thursday. They are to
answer to allegations of mismanagement of revenue accruing from the
sale of television rights on behalf of the NPL,” said the commission’s
spokesperson, Femi Babafemi.

It is alleged that the television rights for the Premier League were
sold for a total of three billion naira between 2006 and 2010 to a
South African company, but only about 436 million naira or about $3
million was received by the league in all these years.