7th March, 2013
Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, yesterday accompanied the management of Rangers of Enugu to the secretariat of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, over the ownership of Super Eagles player Sunday Mba.
Warri Wolves and Rangers are claiming ownership of Mba, who displayed an outstanding performance at the recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa. Both clubs and Mba appeared before a-four-man NFF judicial panel of inquiry to state their cases.
The sitting was, however, adjourned till today, for the committee’s final verdict. Falana told newsmen after the sitting that he was at the Glasshouse to contribute his quota to the development of football in the country.
“I have come here to do my duty, not just as a lawyer, but as someone who is interested in the development of football in this country.
“If there is any inhibition, we have a duty to remove it and allow this player, who is a rising star to achieve and exploit his maximum talent and capability. That is why we need to speed up with this matter.
“I don’t go to court if am not sure of my case. It is not about money but as I did make clear to all the parties, we need to determine the fate of this player; we should not allow this case to hang on his head like a sword of Damocles.
“He should be able to move on and exploit his talent maximally in his own interest and in the interest of the country,’’ Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said. He said he might seek legal action if it was the wish of his client, if the matter did not go in their favour.