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By Emma Jemegah
A group, which calls itself Freedom of Information Advocates Initiative, has threatened to sue the chairman of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Honourable Gbenga Elegbeleye and the league body for failure to disclose the bidding process that led to StarTimes emerging the exclusive broadcast partner of the NPFL.
In a statement signed by Olawale Odukomaiya, Head of Sports Directorate of the group, the seven-day notice given to the NPFL to provide evidence of due diligence in the process leading to the emergence of StarTimes had elapsed without the league body making the evidence available.
“Hon Elegbeleye, and the NPFL have not deemed it necessary to reply to our request. On 4th December 2023, after the expiration of the statutory seven (7) days, we wrote to Hon Elegbeleye, and the NPFL informing them that due to effluxion of time, the information requested has now been deemed denied by virtue of section 7(4) of the FOI Act 2011 (as amended).
“We further reminded Hon Elegbeleye and the NPFL that despite the registration of NPFL as a private company limited by guarantee, it remained a public institution, by virtue of section 2(7) of the same FOI Act 2011. That section regards any organisation rendering public functions, or public service as a public institution, irrespective of the veil of incorporation.”
Relying on Section 2(7) of the FOI Act 2011, the group says “consequent in the interest of justice, fairplay and transparency, we have resolved to approach the courts to compel Hon Gbenga Elegbeleye and the NPFL to disclose the information requested, to declare Elegbeleye and the NPFL’s refusal as illegal and to convict both for breach of the FOI Act 2011, as amended.”
