By Orkula Shaagee
As part of its strategic effort to ensure transparency, fairness and integrity in the conduct of the forthcoming sports federation elections, the Nigeria Sports Commission (NSC) has formally inaugurated two vital committees —the Election Petitions Committee and the Election Appeals Committee.
In a statement signed by the Director Press, NSC, Dr (Mrs) Kehinde Ajayi, the Commission said, the constitution of the committees is in line with international standards and its renewed commitment to excellence in sports governance.
According to the statement, the leadership of the NSC selected respected legal professionals, administrators, and media practitioners with exceptional track records to serve on these committees.
The Election Petitions Committee, the statement said is chaired by Barrister Denen Ikyaa, ahighly respected legal professional and sports ethics expert. He currently serves as a member of the Ethics Committee of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the global governing body for motorsport. He is also a former member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Appeals Committee, where he played an instrumental role in adjudicating critical electoral matters.
Members of the committee are Barrister Chike Onyeacho, a seasoned legal practitioner with deep insights into electoral jurisprudence; Mr. Paul Esheyigba, with strong experience in administrative oversight and legal compliance; Mr. Niyi Alabi Aliebiosu, Sports Editor at the Nigerian Tribune, one of Nigeria’s leading newspapers and Miss Linda Akalugwa, a dedicated legal professional who will serve as a the secretary of the Committee.
The Election Appeals Committee has Barrister A.U. Mustapha, SAN as Chairman. Mustapha, a renowned Senior Advocate of Nigeria with decades of experience in legal arbitration and sports law, is a former two-time Chairman of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeals Committee (2016–2024) and previously chaired the NFF Electoral Committee in 2010, earning wide acclaim for his impartiality and expertise.
Members of the panel are Barrister Chris Umar, SAN; Mr. Lateef Olatunji Surakatu a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and an affiliate of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) and Mrs. Prisca Ngozi Udoka, founder and principal partner at Perazim Law Partners, Abuja.
As part of its strategic effort to ensure transparency, fairness and integrity in the conduct of the forthcoming sports federation elections, the Nigeria Sports Commission (NSC) has formally inaugurated two vital committees —the Election Petitions Committee and the Election Appeals Committee.
In a statement signed by the Director Press, NSC, Dr (Mrs) Kehinde Ajayi, the Commission said, the constitution of the committees is in line with international standards and its renewed commitment to excellence in sports governance.
According to the statement, the leadership of the NSC selected respected legal professionals, administrators, and media practitioners with exceptional track records to serve on these committees.
The Election Petitions Committee, the statement said is chaired by Barrister Denen Ikyaa, ahighly respected legal professional and sports ethics expert. He currently serves as a member of the Ethics Committee of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the global governing body for motorsport. He is also a former member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Appeals Committee, where he played an instrumental role in adjudicating critical electoral matters.
Members of the committee are Barrister Chike Onyeacho, a seasoned legal practitioner with deep insights into electoral jurisprudence; Mr. Paul Esheyigba, with strong experience in administrative oversight and legal compliance; Mr. Niyi Alabi Aliebiosu, Sports Editor at the Nigerian Tribune, one of Nigeria’s leading newspapers and Miss Linda Akalugwa, a dedicated legal professional who will serve as a the secretary of the Committee.
The Election Appeals Committee has Barrister A.U. Mustapha, SAN as Chairman. Mustapha, a renowned Senior Advocate of Nigeria with decades of experience in legal arbitration and sports law, is a former two-time Chairman of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeals Committee (2016–2024) and previously chaired the NFF Electoral Committee in 2010, earning wide acclaim for his impartiality and expertise.
Members of the panel are Barrister Chris Umar, SAN; Mr. Lateef Olatunji Surakatu a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and an affiliate of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) and Mrs. Prisca Ngozi Udoka, founder and principal partner at Perazim Law Partners, Abuja.