League sponsorship suit back in court today
The lingering legal
battle over which company will be the title sponsor of the Nigeria
Premier League will today resume at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi.
The right, which
was formerly given to Total Promotions said to representing telecoms
company, MTN, was cancelled by the Premier League Congress. The
congress said the process which saw MTN emerge as title sponsor for the
league was flawed.
Niyi Alonge,
chairman of Total Promotions had argued that the Premier League had no
justification to cancel the contract, worth over 2.5bn naira for over
four years, it already entered with it.
According to him,
since they had entered into a legal binding contract with the Premier
League, only a court order can invalidate the agreement.
“Total Promotions
Ltd affirms it has a duly executed subsisting contract between the two
parties for the next 4 years. The contract fully states the process by
which it can be vitiated by both parties. No part of this subsisting
legal agreement gives one party the right to act unilaterally. We are
duty bound to await and abide by the courts decision on the subsisting
suit,” Alonge said in a recent press statement.
Binta Murtala
Nyako, who is presiding over the case filed by Total Promotions was
absent at the court’s last sitting which ought to have taken place on
Monday, Feburary 14.
The 2010/2011
league season, which is gradually approaching half way has been dogged
by crisis since it commenced four months ago after strings of
postponement.
Apart from sponsorship problem, the leadership of the league board is also being challenged in some quarters.
Davidson Owumi, who
currently heads the league board was formerly asked to vacate the seat
after a committee said he was not qualified to contest in the elections
which saw him emerge as the league boss. However, Owumi got an
injunction from the Appeal Court staying any action to replace him.
For their part, the management of participating clubs in the league
has called for all matters affecting the league to be settled as soon
as possible.
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