All eyes are on the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, to wield the big hammer on Indebted Clubs who have refused to comply with rulings of the Nigeria Football Federation Players Status and Arbitration Committee order on payment of all overdue to the affected players and coaches.
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Enyimba FC, Heartland FC, Lobi Stars, Abia Warriors FC, Katsina United FC, Akwa United, Shooting Stars and Wikki Tourists FC are all owing ex-players or/and coaches whose contract was terminated unlawfully.
The clubs were due to settle their indebtedness before the kick-off of the 2024/2025 NPFL season otherwise they wouldn’t be allowed to sign new players or transfer old players away from the club but they did sign and keep featuring the new players albeit without complying with the directives.
The NPFL watching and pampering these clubs’ Indiscretions and lawlessness by shifting the deadlines unilaterally after the extended period of grace allowed by the NFF which expired last month, September 27th 2024 to be precise is alarming.
It’s been a back and forth from Nigeria Premier Football League sending reminders and warnings to these clubs and the latest in the series of extensions was done on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
The NPFL COO, Davidson Owumi wrote the clubs again reminding them of the impending hammer which was due to fall the following day and the clubs were expected not to feature their new players on Matchday Six, and yet again gave an extension until Monday 14th October 2024, which expired yesterday.
Unconfirmed reports, said the clubs have been given the last extension till yesterday Monday ( 14 October 2025) that beginning from Matchday 7 of the new season, which comes on this Wednesday, 16 October 2025, the licenses of the new players will be withdrawn and the clubs won’t be allowed to feature their new players until they settle all indebtedness and payable overdue.
There is a disturbing twist in the application of these sanctions, an insider within the NPFL says it will be difficult to impose these sanctions as some of the “Ogas” within the NPFL are in the business of sending players and coaches to some of these indebted clubs which makes it difficult, morally to implement any of the sanctions.
He said this clog has been the only source of delays in implementing the sanctions as approved by the NFF Players Status and Arbitration Committee.
“I don’t think these people will implement anything, one of the Ogas at the top is sending one coach and some players to clubs, where are the moral standings for him to implement these sanctions? He asked rhetorically pleading anonymity.
Investigation shows there is a kind of rift within the leadership of the NPFL as the majority wants to implement the sanctions once and for all while the powerful minority are still canvassing for another round of extension as the clubs go about their regular businesses, with no form of communication whatsoever with their creditors.
All eyes will be out on Wednesday, watching keenly if the NPFL eventually bite or if the indebted clubs continue to parade their new players without remorse.
Some Cases of Indebtedness with Final Decision issued by the NFF Players Status and Arbitration Yet to be Settled
Abia Warriors shall pay Ikedinachi Nwakanma & Julius Obinna N4 million & N3 million respectively for wrongfully terminating their contracts.
Imoh Azubuike is entitled to get overdue payables to N 3.15 million from Abia Warriors.
Abia Warriors shall pay Victor Alegbe N 5 million for wrongfully terminating his contract & overdue payables.
Enyimba FC shall pay Stephen Chukwude N 5 million for wrongfully terminating his contract.
Jonah James, Jonas Emmanuel, H. Shamsudeen, Kanti and Abiodun Adebayo are all entitled to overdue payables from Katsina Utd. Payments are to be made in instalments between June and September 2024.
Katsina United shall pay Coach Usman Shariff Abd’Allah N 7.7 million for overdue payables.
Katsina United shall pay Coach Nasir Salisu N 1.25 million for overdue payables.
Katsina United shall pay Coach Tony Bolus N 8 million for overdue payables.
Enyimba shall pay Chijioke Akuneto N 1.2 million for overdue payables.
Lobi Stars shall pay Christian Nwokedi N 1.5 million for overdue payables.
Wikki Tourists FC shall pay Chukwude Stephen N 2.5 million for overdue payables.
El-Kanemi Warriors shall pay Bala Yusuf, Emmanuel Adoyi and Suleiman Sodiq N 750,000, N 1.65 million and N 1 million respectively for overdue payables.
Kwara United shall pay John Obuh N 10.45 million for overdue payables.
Akwa United shall pay Osahon Uhunmwangbon & others N 47 million for overdue payables in revalidation of an earlier decision from 2015.
Some Complaints have already been submitted to the NPFL and NFF PSAC
•Akwa United’s indebtedness to Chukwude Stephen for wrongfully terminating his contract.
•3SC indebtedness to Sikiru Adewale Alimi
•Kwara United’s indebtedness to Adekunle Ayobami for wrongfully terminating his contract.
•Lobi Stars indebtedness to Solomon Babatunde for wrongfully terminating his contract.
•Enyimba FC indebtedness to George Enyia for wrongfully terminating his contract.
