The duo of Coach Luke Olaiya and Meschach Olatunji of Like-Minds Football Club have described their indefinite suspension from all football activities in FCT by the FA Ethics and Disciplinary Committee as a null and void, saying it was gross violations of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) statutes.
They expressed their dismay at the press conference in Abuja yesterday, calling for the intervention of the NFF.
Olaiya, recounting the events that led to his suspension: “I am a construction worker who coaches part-time. On the day of the election, I was coming from the site with my tools, including a penknife. The police stopped and searched me, and after I explained my situation, I was allowed to go pending further investigation. Despite this, the FCT FA’s ethics and disciplinary committee rushed to suspend me indefinitely and issued a report to the public without board approval, violating their mandate.”
He further alleged lack of proper procedure in summoning him by the ethics and disciplinary committee. “I was given less than 48 hours to prepare for the panel, which is a blatant disregard for the NFF statutes. The rules clearly state that if a defendant fails to appear, a reminder should be sent. Instead, the committee issued a public report the same day, another glaring breach of protocol,” Olaiya added.
Meschach also raised concerns about the composition of the committee, saying; “The committee includes Mansur Abdullah, who was banned by the FCT FA board in November, and Barr. Jimmy Kadiri, who is still under suspension by the Gwagwalada Area Council. These are the same people tasked with making decisions that impact the integrity of football in the FCT. Their actions seem designed to tarnish our image and that of our club,” he stated.
The coaches appealed to the NFF to ensure fairness and uphold the statutes guiding football governance.
“FCT football has always been known for peace and order. As stakeholders, we are committed to preserving this legacy and will not condone any act that disrupts the harmony of our football community,” Olaiya concluded.
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