NPFL ban Lobi Stars media officer from all football activities

The board of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has banned the media officer of Lobi Stars, Emmanuel Ujah, from football-related activities in the league over unguarded statements.

Ujah granted an interview with Today 95.1FM Port Harcourt, where he accused Lobi Stars players of match fixing while also expressing his frustration with the present position of the club on the log.

“So, there’s this unwholesome practice that have been going on in Lobi. They have been betting at Bet9ja, fixing matches."

"They’ll ask people to bet that they’re scoring us two goals today so go and bet. We told the club chairman to dissolve the team and let the people go and bring other players in the second stanza of the league, those (he) can control."

After Ujah's accusation, an investigation was held by the NPFL where the league body summoned him to appear for an inquest into a publication.

When the league body was down with all investigation involving all parties they came to the conclusion in a statement saying Ujah had breached the rules of the NPFL, as his accusations lacked evidence.

"Lobi Stars media director, Emmanuel Ujah, has been charged for breaching the NPFL Framework & Rules following his unguarded statement.

"Ujah, on his volition, owned up to granting an interview in error & promised better conduct in future. He confessed to not having evidence of match-fixing after he initially alleged such in the same interview he granted. Also adding that the Lobi Stars media officer is remorseful and is to tender an apology and is to retract his statement publicly."

"The Lobi Stars media director regrets his statement as he claimed that he was driven by emotion to make the grievous allegation."

Following the investigation carried out into the matter, Ujah is hereby banned indefinitely from all NPFL activities. He is to tender a written apology & retract the match-fixing allegations. Management of Lobi Stars and the NPFL will further investigate issues and concerns raised by Ujah."

Lobi Stars have been relegated to the Nigeria National League.