Suit against Basketball Body Struck Off

A four year legal tussle that afflicted the Nigeria Basketball Federation ended at the weekend as an Abuja Federal High Court struck out a suit filed by a group of stakeholders against the body.
The suit had its origin in the 2013 election that brought in the executive that was dissolved along with those of the other Nigeria sports federations last week.
In striking out the case, the judge, according to one of the lawyers who represented the NBBF in the protracted legal tussle, Emma Okibe, said the plaintiffs lacked locus standi to challenge the 2013 election since they did not take part in it.
The major complainant in the suit, retired Col Sam Ahmedu had earlier withdrawn his name from the suit but was a principal witness to the others who included former coach of Ebun Comets Basketball Club, Andrew Isopkehi.
Reacting to the verdict which was in its favour, the NBBF described the judgment as “victory for basketball as well as a focused leadership which did not allow mischief makers distract it from its objective of improving the game of basketball in the country and taking it to the next level.”
The leadership of the NBBF was particularly impressed by the “professional competence” of the lawyers and congratulated them for “tirelessly arguing this case to a conclusion” in favour of the federation and its principal officers who were sued along with it.
It called on all true stakeholders to remain steadfast and continue to support the federation so that it achieves its desired goal of taking the game to the next level.