Former Nasarawa United Player Challenges The Club Over 6.1 Million Entitlement By Yakubu Busari,Jos
The former Nasarawa united Player Mr Maurice Onyebuchi has challenged the club in court over nonpayment of entitlement of three seasons.
Mr Maurice Onyebuchi disclosed that he entered into contract with Nigeria Professional Football League [NPFL] club, Nasarawa United to play for three season amounted to N,6,100,000.00 million naira .
He has been battling with a court suit instituted in the past three months over non payments of entitlement of 2008, 2009 and 2010 without match bonus which has not been paid since the period under review.
The contract which was entered by the Chairman of the Nasarawa united ,Dr Chris O. Iyimoga and the secretary AGasi U. Williams was instituted in November 2014 at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria in the city of Jos.
Our correspondent was made to understand that Nasarawa United have Danladi Isaac and secretary Lawrence Shamah are been challenged the power of the industrial court in Jos to hear the case claiming that its counterpart in Lafia has the power to do so since the matter happened in Lafia.
Nasarawa United are also challenging the claimant, Maurice’s move to institute the case at an industrial court rather than exploring the arbitration of the Nigeria Football Federation [NFF], which makes provision for his reliefs being sought from the court.
Maurice’s lawyer, J.O. Ogieva, has already filed its defence at same court insisting that the industrial court should go ahead and hear the suit since it is the only one of such judicial divisions located within the territory since Lafia does not have such courts.
Maurice in his claim to the court stated that he was an employee of Nasarawa United for three football league seasons of 2008/09, 2009/10 and 2010/11.
The attacking winger, who was in the books of Plateau United last term, wantsthe court to grant his reliefs “against the defendants jointly and severally to the sum of N6.1 million only being the signing-on fees not paid to/owing the claimant by the defendants for the three seasons i.e 2008/09, 2009/10 and 2010/11 the claimant played for the first defendant.”
The other prayer by Maurice is “the defendant may pay N6.1 million only with cost to the claimant or the claimant’s legal practitioner within the time allowed for appearance and that upon such payment the proceedings shall terminate.”
Former captain of the club, Stephen Moga, who played between 2008 and 2012, has also claimed that the Lafia outfit owe him N8.4 million accruing from signing-on fees for the period he was their employee. Moga, who previously played for Jigawa Stars, Mighty Jets and NPA [now Warri Wolves], said he has stopped his football career due to the poor welfare given to players in the league.
The former Nasarawa United defender is now studying for a Diploma in Accounting at the Federal Polytechnic in Lafia.
“The poor welfare shown to players in the league has made me take a decision to stop football. I can’t say if I will return to it but right now I am in school, studying for a Diploma in Accounting at the polytechnic in Lafia. Since I left Nasarawa United, I am yet to receive the money they owe me which is N8.4 million. I have taken the matter to the NFF, the LMC and even a group known as Brekete in Abuja but nothing has happened,” said
According to his counsel , Bar John Ogieva said, they are challenging Nasarawa united football club to pay him his salaries and other entitlements from 2008 to , 2010.
Ogieva further seeking the court to direct Nasarawa united as a matter of urgency comply and settle all the entitlement .
The proceeding justice Mrs. H.R Gwandu, said on a lighter mood that; “Even footballers that are kicking the ball have come to court, it seems there are anarchy every where,
She expressed hope that the matter should be settle with the managers outside court .”Gwandu added that the Jos division has the right to entertain any case out the state .
The matter which was slated for hearing has been adjourned to 6th of May ,2015 for settlement outside court .
 preliminary objections (P.O), challenging the jurisdiction of the court to determine the matter was trash out completely.
