By Rasaq Oboirien
A Federal High Court in Plateau State has suspended the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) indefinitely, reports NaijaSportsXtra.blogspot.com.
The new development was made known on the league body's official Facebook page on Wednesday afternoon.
The post read, Giwa FC vs LMC/NFF, the Nigerian Professional Football League has been suspended indefinitely until the LMC fully complies with the earlier order of reinstating Giwa FC back to the league.
Justice I I Kunda in his ruling delivered at the Plateau State High Court which sat in Bukuru, near Jos, (today, 31 August, 2016) decried the delay tactics being employed by the counsel to the LMC, Olumide Olujimi, to delay the case knowing fully well that the Nigerian league is time bound, and the league would have effectively ended before the case is determined.
The judge declared the case adjourned but also told the defendants that they can proceed with their appeal at the Appeal Court if they so wish.
Recall, the LMC failed to organise matches for the Jos team despite reinstating them into the league log and asked clubs not to feature ex-Giwa FC players again, in a letter signed by the Chairman of Company, Mallam Shehu Dikko, the LMC stated that its decision was strictly in adherence with the court order reinstating the club in the top flight league.
It will be recalled that a High Court sitting in Jos with Circular No. 10/2016, dated 20th May 2016 had ordered the league regulatory body to reinstate Giwa FC.
Rather the LMC on Tuesday, August 23 choose to filed an appeal against the Plateau State High Court order asking it to reinstate Giwa FC to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL). The LMC, in its appeal filed by Chief Akin Olujimi (SAN).
It is praying the Court of Appeal to set aside the interim order of the Plateau State High Court, Jos on several grounds of law.
The body is challenging the jurisdiction of the lower court to have granted the orders in the first place.
