LMC: Appeal Court bars Giwa, fixes October 11 for hearing

The Court of Appeal which sat on Monday in Jos, has secured an undertaking from the counsel to Giwa FC, Mustapha Abubakar, that he won’t attempt to tamper with the subject matter of the appeal file by the League Management Company against the orders of Justice I.I. Kunda of the Plateau State High Court, Jos.

This is even as the Inspector General of Police on Monday increased the presence of his men at the premises of the LMC to protect the staff and its activities.

In a related matter, the Court of Appeal also resolved the issue of who can make legal appearance for Nigeria Football Federation. The court ruled that Barrister Maduabuchi who was appointed by Yahaya Adama, an ally of Chris Giwa, could not claim to be representing the NFF when their group was still battling for legitimacy in court.

Justice Kunda had amongst several rulings ordered the LMC to reinstate Giwa FC in the 2015/16 Nigeria Professional Football League and committed of LMC Chairman, Shehu Dikko and Salihu Abubakar, the Chief Operating Officer to prison on contempt charges.

The rulings emanated from a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by one Mustapha Abubakar, a supporter of Giwa FC, who claimed that the expulsion of the club from the NPFL had denied him the right to get value for season’s tickets he purchased.

The LMC had on all occasions of the ruling of Justice Kunda challenged the orders at the Court of Appeal and filed for stay of execution which led to the hearing yesterday by Justices of the Appeal Court, Jos Division.

The Court of Appeal adjourned the matter to October 11, 2016 to hear the consolidated appeal and all motions and objections filed by the parties.

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