Nigeria Content Online

The hopes of a
quick resolution to the suit over who gets the right to be title
sponsors of the Nigeria Premier League was once again dashed at a
Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday, when the presiding
Judge, Binta Nyako, had to adjourn hearing on the matter for the
umpteenth time till Tuesday, February 22.

Justice Nyako took
the decision as the lingering argument on legal representation for the
league body, who are the first defendant in the case, was yet to be
resolved by the parties involved. “I am not happy on issues like this,”
she said. “Right now, the case we have before us is a very sensitive
one which we need to resolve on time. If you two cannot resolve the
issue of who gets to represent the NPL then I think the court will have
to decide for you.”

While Emmanuel Oboh
claimed he was the rightful lawyer representing the body, another
lawyer, I.I Obano, also claimed rightful counsel to the both the NFF
and the NPL. Oboh argued that he has been in charge of cases involving
the NPL for over three years and also has a letter duly signed by the
league board for him to represent them yet again.

The real case

Total Promotions
Limited is in court to challenge the decision of the league body to
cancel the sponsorship rights formerly awarded to it. The company had
represented telecommunication company, MTN, in an initial bid exercise
conducted from December 15 to 16, 2010 in Abuja which it eventually won
with a sponsorship package worth N2.6 billion.

However, a congress of the league body, 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 its pronouncement.
But the ongoing litigation has stalled the move. The league enters the
16th week this weekend and the mounting debt accrued from prosecuting
the matches might likely grind it to a halt.