In the heart of Nigeria’s football community, tensions are brewing within the Federal Capital Territory Football Association (FCT FA), as some prominent board members, of the Association have raised allegations against the Chairman of the FCT FA, Abba Mukhtar, accusing him of unilateral and illegal actions that undermine the integrity of the association.
The controversy centers on the recent inauguration of several committees by Mukhtar, most notably the Ethics Committee. According to Samuel Abimbola and Femi Ajilore, these committees were established without the necessary approval or ratification by the FCT FA Board.
In a formal petition addressed to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the aggrieved members expressed their dismay at Mukhtar’s actions, calling them a violation of the board’s authority. “The Chairman of the FCT FA does not have the executive power to solely run the FCT FA Board,” they wrote. “It is now obvious that the Chairman has decided to challenge the legal foundations of the Board and bring the FCT FA to ridicule.”
The members assert that such actions not only disrespect the board’s processes but also undermine the contributions of experienced stakeholders like Samuel and Ajilore. Abimbola Samuel, a veteran in Nigerian football and former National U-20 coach, and Femi Ajilore, a former national team player, are seen as pillars of the FCT FA whose expertise is crucial for the association’s growth.
Samuel and Ajilore allege that the Ethics Committee, which has already begun operations, is acting outside its legal mandate. They describe it as a “self-founded, witch-hunting” body running amok within the FCT FA. The petition calls on the NFF to:
Scrap the Ethics Committee and any other similarly established committees. Restrain such committees from interfering in the association’s activities until proper processes are followed.
The petitioners emphasize their dedication to the development of football in the FCT but firmly distance themselves from what they describe as the Chairman’s “unwholesome acts.” They urge the NFF to intervene promptly, warning that failure to do so could further erode the FCT FA’s credibility and derail its objectives.
“We appeal for your prompt intervention and anticipate same,” the petition concludes, signed by Samuel Abimbola ,Femi Ajilore, Ezeh Ngozi Victoria and Akintade Babatunde.
