Re: “Stakeholders Accuse Outgone Board of Illegal Tenure Extension”

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The press release titled “Stakeholders Accuse Outgone Board of Illegal Tenure Extension” is riddled with factual inaccuracies, selective interpretations of the NBBF Constitution, and a deliberate omission of critical historical, legal, and administrative context. It is therefore necessary, in the interest of truth, institutional memory, and the stability of Nigerian basketball, to firmly reject its claims and place the correct facts on record.

1. False Premise on the January 31, 2022 Elections

The press release proceeds on the false assumption that the January 31, 2022 election that produced the Musa Kida–led board was a single, peaceful, and universally endorsed process. This is patently incorrect.

On January 31, 2022, two parallel elections were conducted on the same day:

One led by Engr. Musa Kida in Benin City, and

Another led by Mark Igoche in Abuja.

This unprecedented development plunged Nigerian basketball into a governance crisis. Crucially, the Federal Government of Nigeria and the National Sports Commission (then Ministry of Youth and Sports Development) did not recognise either election at the time. This position is a matter of public record and was widely reported by national media.

Because of this impasse and leadership vacuum, the Federal Government was compelled to intervene. This resulted in the constitution of an Interim Management Committee (IMC) on May 23, 2022, a body that was later dissolved in August 2022 specifically to pave the way for official recognition and inauguration of a substantive board by the government.

The instability arising from the unresolved elections ultimately led to Nigeria’s suspension from international basketball activities and the painful denial of D’Tigress’ participation at the FIBA World Cup. This sanction alone underscores that the January 2022 elections were neither conclusive nor domestically settled.

2. When Did the Board Legally Come Into Being?

Contrary to the petitioners’ assertion, the Musa Kida–led NBBF Board did not legally assume office on January 31, 2022.

The board was officially inaugurated and formally recognised on October 6, 2022, by the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare, at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

At that inauguration, the Minister was categorical about:

The sovereignty and superiority of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and

The subservience of the constitution of any sports federation to Nigerian law and governmental authority.

Importantly, the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) was represented at the inauguration, reinforcing its legitimacy and institutional acceptance.

This inauguration:

Was publicly declared as the only board recognised by the Federal Government of Nigeria;

Was extensively covered by reputable media outlets including The Guardian, Daily Trust, The Nation, TheCable, and Punch;

Marked the definitive end of the leadership vacuum and months of non-recognition.

In Nigerian sports governance, federal recognition and inauguration are not ceremonial niceties. They confer legal personality, authority to operate, and the mandate to represent Nigeria officially. Until October 6, 2022, that recognition did not exist.

3. Petitioners’ Own Evidence Undermines Their Case

Ironically, the petitioners contradict themselves. They admit that:

There were official correspondences between the NBBF and the Ministry in mid-2022, including a June 2022 appeal letter signed by Engr. Musa Kida seeking reversal of Nigeria’s suspension.

The Ministry initially refused recognition and only reversed its stance later.

This alone confirms a critical fact: the board could not have been constitutionally operational before October 2022, as it lacked recognition from its supervising authority.

4. On Authority, Congress, and Invalid Petitions

Those who signed the petition lack the constitutional authority to do so as Congress members as defined by the NBBF Constitution. A fundamental question arises:

Can the signatories validly claim to be the true representatives of their states in line with constitutional provisions?

Any so-called Congress decision taken without adherence to the constitutional protocol stipulated in the NBBF Constitution is null and void. Representation, quorum, and procedure are not optional—they are foundational.

5. Misrepresentation of FIBA’s Role

While FIBA may have acknowledged one faction earlier, FIBA recognition does not override Nigerian law or government authority. This is standard global practice.

The October 6, 2022 inauguration was the outcome of:

Sustained engagement between FIBA and the Federal Government, and

A deliberate political and administrative resolution of the crisis.

To cherry-pick FIBA’s earlier position while ignoring Nigeria’s decisive intervention is intellectually dishonest.

6. The Imaginary January 31, 2026 Timeline

By inventing a January 31, 2026 expiry date, the petitioners conveniently discarded the conflict resolution mechanisms embedded in the NBBF Constitution—mechanisms meant to be activated even when disputes genuinely exist.

In this instance, there was no constitutional crisis—only a figment of imagination constructed to manufacture illegitimacy.

If tenure is reckoned from October 6, 2022, as dictated by law and recognition, then the four-year term logically runs until October 2026, not January 2026.

7. The Real Threat to Nigerian Basketball

The true danger to Nigerian basketball is not an imaginary tenure extension but repeated attempts to:

Rewrite history,

Undermine constitutional order, and

Destabilise the federation through media-driven petitions rather than due process.

Conclusion

The press release by the so-called “stakeholders” is misleading, legally defective, and factually unsustainable. The Musa Kida–led NBBF Board was:

Officially inaugurated on October 6, 2022,

Recognised by the Federal Government of Nigeria on that date, and

Lawfully in office until October 2026, subject to constitutional processes.

Any narrative to the contrary is a calculated attempt to manufacture illegitimacy where none exists. Nigerian basketball deserves stability, truth, and respect for due process—not recycled crises driven by selective memory and political ambition.