The newly elected Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF) President Dr. Ademola Are who takes over from former President Mr. Kelechi Mbagwu have also taken up a pending FOI Act Court case at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi Lagos Sports Intelligence Magazine report.
The FOI Act case with Suit No LHC/L/CS//2020 was jointly instituted by a Journalist Mr. Joseph Odoekwu and Heptano Communications with the NRFF and the President of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation as joint respondent.
Counsel to the applicant Nwobodo Esq confirmed to Sports Intelligence Magazine that hearing has been fixed for December 6th, 2021 and the business of the court is set to continue on that day.
he applicant is through his counsel praying the Court to compel the Rugby Federation to comply with the provisions of the FOI Act, with a case of wrongful denial been sought in the prayer of the Counsel.
On January 28, 2020 this writer published a story titled: What Next As Nigeria Rugby Federation Ordered To Vacate N5m Rented Apartment. The story was a follow-up to a directive given by the Federal Ministry of Youth And Sport, asking the NRFF to vacate the rented apartment at No 18 Ayinde Giwa Street in Surulere and move to the National Stadium, which is the office recognized by the Federal Government.
On February 3, 2020 this writer invoked relevant sections of the FOI Act seeking to get information from NRFF on how it got funds to finance such apartment despite the game of Rugby not getting adequate funding in area of equipment amongst others.
The then President of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation Mr. Kelechi Mbagwu ignored the two-page FOI Act request made and this led to the applicant heading to court to get an order compelling the Rugby Federation to comply with the provisions of the Act.
However, the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic had impeded the hearing of the matter with several dates fixed when all court cases had been suspended due to the pandemic as well as when the court was on vacation. With December 6 now given, hearing will be on that day.
Credit: simag.com
