Government may probe LMC as PFAN want body to declare public, asset and liabilities
Many journalists including late Mike Oboh were owed by the banned LMC
The Federal Government of Nigeria will probe that activities of the League Management Company (LMC) since its existence in 2013.
The Ministry of Sports ordered NFF to withdraw the Licence of the League Manager and replace it with Independent Management Committee (IMC) pending inauguration of legally constituted body to take charge the affair of League Management.
The LMC after nine years of operation, has no asset while leaving behind huge Liability despite alleged deals running into Million of US Dollars the shareholders have allegedly siphoned in 9 years of operation.
Football stakeholders are surprised that the LMC could not leave behind a building.
There are records that Referees, and staff are owed indemnities backlogs of salaries.
Many journalists including late Mike Oboh were owed by the banned LMC. The incoming League Management will have issues of indebtedness to contend with 100% inheritance of liability with zero asset.
With this, the Federal Government has concluded plans to look into the balance sheet of the company for the past nine years.
Meanwhile, Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria (PFAN) has urged the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development to set up a Committee of Enquiry to probe the activities of the League Management Company (LMC) in the last nine years.
The Supreme Court on Friday 2nd September, 2022 declared the formation of LMC that currently runs the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) as an aberration and deceit.
Delivering the judgement, Justice Justice Ejembi Eko said the LMC was fraudulently floated to avoid and evade pre-existing debts and other obligations owed by the Nigeria Premier League Limited that is mandated by law to run Professional Football League in Nigeria. Based on this, the Ministry of Sports after critical investigation declared the LMC illegal and urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) set up an Independent Management Committee to take charge pending the constitution of a legal body.
PFAN Task Force Chairman, Harrison Jalla in a realese urged the Ministry of Sports not to allow the leaders of the League Management Company go scot-free without being accountable and make public the balance sheet and the dividend they have paid to the shareholders for nine years.
Jalla while commending the Ministry of Sports for the clean up to better the domestic League urged the supervising body to order the LMC leaders make public the expenditure and income of the company since 2013.
"The Ministry of Sports has done Nigeria domestic League a great favour by declaring illegal the LMC. The LMC should show Football stakeholders and Nigerians the assets it is leaving behind for the Interim Management Committee after 9 years of managing the NPFL. This is because the Oyiuki Obaseki of blessed memory/ Davidson Owumi/ Rumson Baribote led Board in few years of their operations left massive asset for the NPL which consist of a building where the NPL headquarters was situated, official cars and buses, good welfare packages for staff and up to date and prompt payments of match indemnities.
"The NPFL as the flagship of Nigeria's domestic football should be assisted with a take-off grant from the federal government of Nigeria for the IMC to operate in the interim until the battered Image of the NPFL already tainted with several dubious transactions and pending litigations are properly cleaned up.
"An independent panel or committee of enquiry into the activities of the LMC from inception particularly as it concerns public funds received by way of sponsorships for the development of football in Nigeria. "The PFAN task force appreciates the bold and pragmatic step by the Hon. Minister to start the needed reforms in our domestic football by sacking the LMC."
