The Minister of Sports and the Chairman, National Sports Commission, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, on Friday refused to swear in the board of Handball Federation of Nigeria due to an order of the Federal High Court, Abuja restraining him from inaugurating the board.
Abdullahi, who had been accused by some stakeholders for allegedly favouring his cronies in the process leading to the final election, said that he won’t go against the court order, adding that due process and rule of law must be adhered to.
In a quick reaction, the National Coordinator, Mega Handball Veterans, Nicholas Nwani, the stakeholder group that got the court order, commended the minister for doing what was expected of a personality holding such exalted office.
Nwani said the effort of the group is geared towards ensuring that the right thing is done.
He regretted that they were pushed to the level of seeking redress in the court stating that it was the inability of the National Sports Commission to follow their guidelines that resulted to the current impasse.
He said: “I am happy that the minister has decided to listen to the voice of reason and follow the line of justice.
“I sincerely believe that the game of handball will emerge victorious after this struggle because it will send a strong message to the board and National Sports Commission that impunity doesn’t pay rather due process and total adherence to guidelines remains the bases that will produce a credible leadership.
“Finally, I would like to use this opportunity to call on handball stakeholders to remain steadfast and support the struggle to develop handball in Nigeria.”
Meanwhile, in adherence to the court order, the board members of Handball Federation of Nigeria, including the President, Alhaji Yusuf Dauda, were all absent at the venue of the swearing in ceremony on Friday.
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