South-south Rejects Baribote's Ban

The South-South Football Stakeholders has rejected the 15-year ban placed on Victor Rumson Baribote by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), declaring that the action was a witch-hunt of members from the zone.

This decision was reached during an extra-ordinary meeting of the body which held in Benin City on Friday. The stakeholders noted that the NFF’s resolution to ban Baribote was a hasty one and did not follow due process.

The body stressed that banning a man who is contributing so much to Nigerian football development by being one of the few private owners of a Glo Premier League club is a total injustice to the nation’s football.

The Stakeholders maintained that henceforth any attempt by any group to intimidate its members would be resisted. It stated that the body is made up of law-abiding citizens of Nigeria who are not interested in causing trouble.

The group stressed that the people of the zone have contributed immensely to Nigerian football, while arguing that the zone deserves to be treated with respect with regard to how they treat their members.

“We are not against punishing of anyone who has contravened the law, but we are insisting that in doing so, all channels of due process must be followed before such punishment is meted out,” a statement from the Stakeholders said. “We are proud of Baribote for sponsoring a Premier League club in the country. We feel he should be...