NBBF Appeals Committee Explains: ‘Why We Struck Out Olumide Oyedeji’s Petition After Election Defeat’

An official explanation has emerged in the wake of a decision by Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) appeals committee to strike out a petition and objection raised by ex-international, Olumide Oyedeji regarding the body’s recent election.

Sports247 reports that, soon after the official declaration of Dr Abdullahi Mustapha as the NBBF’s new president, Oyedeji raised heated allegations about victimisation against him, deliberate irregularities and ulterior motives by the electoral committee.

Read Also: Petra Sörling Hails African Table Tennis Championships as Gateway for Emerging Talent

However, the former national team captain and current president of Nigeria Olympians Association (NOA), may now have to sheathe his sword, as the appeals committee explained that his petition was rejected after checking its content in relation with the NBBF’s statutes.

The committee headed by Barrister Emmanuel Okibe consequently formally announced that they had dismissed Oyedeji’s petition and all others that challenged the presidential election results, which gave Mustapha the authority to lead Nigerian basketball for four years.

Barrister Okibe further stated emphatically that the petitions from Oyedeji (representing South-West zone) and Mohammed Sani (North-East zone) were thoroughly examined in detail, before they were both dismissed for lacking merit.

He added at length that the panel, which also had Chichi Nwoko, and Emmanuel Zira, painstakingly and carefully reviewed all submitted complaints following the election on October 15th at International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja.

​”The petitions were carefully examined in accordance with the electoral guidelines before the committee arrived at its final decision,” Okibe expatiated while reading the appeal committee’s decision.

Sports247 reports further that, with the appeal committee’s unanimous ruling, all legal challenges and complaints lodged in the wake of the NBBF election should finally be laid to rest, with the federation’s new board now bound to formally commence its tenure.