Ekiti State Football Association counsel Barrister Femi Familusi has shed more light on the reasons why the 14-days jail sentence by Ado Ekiti magistrate court was not served by the Ekiti FA Chairman and five board members.
The Ekiti State FA Chairman, Bayo Olanlege as well as Ariyo Amos Yomi, Fatukasi Ilesanmi, Ajibewa Adeniyi, Ibidun Isaac, and Aregbesola Olumiyiwa were sentenced to prison for 14 days for contempt of court on Thursday by an Ekiti State Chief Magistrate’s Court, Ado Ekiti Magisterial District but were released from prison 24 hours after, following another injunction which set aside the ruling.
Addressing newsmen, Barrister Femi Familusi stated that his clients did not disobey any court order to warrant their conviction as witnessed on Thursday describing the conviction as an error and judicial somersault.
His words ” these whole processes have turned my clients to heroes because those who took what was supposed to be an in-house matter to court apparently could not say they are true lovers of football.
“In the first place are we supposed to be in court? Some people whom I will describe as men of yesteryears conspired out of their selfish interest and aspiration to bring down the good move to bring development to football in the state, approached a court using all manners of blackmails and lies just to pull down the association.
“The truth may not travel faster but it will get to the destination, he said
“No order was violated, I consider what happened on Thursday as the lowest moment for the judiciary in Nigeria, the rule of law and the administration of justice.
Reacting to the crisis, Olanlege, who said he was not rattled by the turn of events on Thursday, added that he was rather embarrassed that some individuals were bent on thwarting efforts to develop football and sports in the state.
“I was feeling embarrassed because we are building a very good image for football using Ekiti FA. We are also building a very good image in sports generally. Olanlege said
“I was embarrassed that we thought we were having such a wonderful system building something together only for some to think the best thing they could do was to try to embarrass the government or try to embarrass the game, but thank God, that did not happen.”
The Ekiti FA boss said though litigation was good for the system, “it has to be done in the right way. You need to report to the right authorities in the Nigeria Football Federation. You don’t take football matters to court and that is very important and that has to be abided by.”
