Handball Crisis: Court Verdict Backs Veterans,May Nullify Elections Into Boards

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja that was presided over by Hon. Justice E.S. Chukwu today granted a motion for amendment of Statement of Claim of current and former elite players of the game of handball in Nigeria, filed on behalf of themselves and local & foreign based handball players, former national & foreign league players, former national team players, team managers, former team managers and handball administrators challenging the recent election into the Board of the Handball Federation of Nigeria.

This Development is set to change the face of sports in Nigeria based on the main reliefs the veterans and elite players are seeking from the court in the amended claims.

According to the counsel to the plaintiff, Terence Terfa the main reliefs are “a declaration that the guidelines for election into the boards of non-concessioned sports federations including the Handball Federation of Nigeria entitled: “Elections And Appointments Guidelines Into Non Concessioned Sports Federations” which did not take into consideration the interests of veterans and former elite players of the sports despite their enormous contributions/roles in sports in Nigeria is null and void.”

“And also an order of the Honourable Court directing the National Sports Commission to issue fresh guidelines for elections/appointment into boards of non concessioned sports which take into adequate consideration the interests of veterans and former elite players of the sports particularly those who played for the national teams and elite clubs”.

The veterans and elite handball players are also asking the court for an order directing the NSC “to conduct fresh elections into the board of the Handball Federation of Nigeria based on the fresh guidelines within 60 (sixty days) from the date of judgment.”
The defendants are yet to file any defence to the suit but their counsel promised to file it before the next adjourned date. The suit was further adjourned to 16th day of October, 2013 for Trial.

Reacting to the sudden turn of events in the crisis rocking handball federation of Nigeria, the counsel to the plaintiff Terence Terfa said that the Veterans are out to make a statement adding that “no matter how long a bad practice has lasted, it won’t make it to be good”
“I have full confidence in the Nigeria judiciary and that’s why we are here to make sure that justice is done in the matter”, he concluded.