Sports Ministry orders resumption of Basketball Leagues

The Ministry of Youth and Sports Development has authorised the resumption of the Nigeria Basketball Federation men’s basketball league after years of inactivity.

The Ministry’s decision follows an Abuja Federal High Court verdict which struck out the case brought against it by the Management Board of Kwese Basketball League.

In a letter signed by Simon Ebhojiaye on behalf of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Nebeolisa Anako, the ministry said “With this positive judgment, the NBBF is permitted to commence any tournament (Premier League) in the country.”

“On January 26, 2021, the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja struck out the above case (FHC/ABJ/CS/1317/2019) which was instituted against the NBBF and the Honourable Minister.”

With the latest decision, the NBBF has intensified its hunt for prospective sponsors of the men’s league after Kwese withdrew from the Nigerian business space due to financial reasons.

The Kwese Management Board, Chairman of Gombe Bulls, Ibrahim Sa’ad and Kwara Falcons’ chairman, Joseph Adeyemo had brought a suit against the federation in 2018 stopping the NBBF from organising the men’s top tier basketball league.

NP/Confidence Okwuchi