The Nigeria Football Federation has complied with FIFA’s directive after it ditched Mallam Rabiu Umar to name former FIFA referee, Mrs Faith Irabor to head it’s Referee Committee, as it also rejigged the composition of the Match Judicial Committee and Match Commissioners Committee.
The three different committees would see to the officiating in the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) for the period of four years, 2022-2026.
The development is according to FIFA’s new document that the referees’ committee shall be composed only of former match officials (preferably having operated at the top level of their respective domestic competition). They should not be affiliated with any club, any other football organisation, or another referee organisation (union, membership group, etc). Active match officials shall not be eligible to become members of any Referees Committee.
Irabor will work with Mallam Rabiu Umar as Vice Chairman, while the Match Commissioners Committee is headed by Member of NFF Board, Alhaji Babagana Kalli. The Vice Chairman is Ogun State FA Chairman who doubles as Board member of the NFF, Alhaji Ganiyu Majekodunmi.
The Disciplinary Committee is headed by Barrister J. B. C. Obikwelu, former Vice Chairman of the Anambra State Football Association, while Barrister Gandi Umar Mohammed is Chairman of the Appeals Committee.
The Referees and Match Commissioners’ committees are are to meet with the NFF leadership at the NFF Secretariat, Abuja on Thursday by 1pm, in preparation for the 2022-2023 Nigeria Professional Football League season commencing on Saturday, 8th January.
Full List:
Referees Committee
Mrs Faith Irabor – Chairman
Mallam Rabiu Umar – Vice Chairman
Oba James Odeniran – Member
Mr Abraham Zakowi – Member
Mallam Waziri Furo Gawe – Member
Mr. C. C. Chukwujekwu – Member
Mallam Bello Abubakar – Member
Match Commissioners Committee
Alh. Babagana Kalli – Chairman
Alh. Ganiyu Majekodunmi – Vice Chairman
Hon. Usman Maulud – Member
Alh. Aminu Mammaga – Member
Alh. Idris Abdullahi Thuraya – Member
Mr. Anthony Ugwu – Member
Otunba Mustapha Razaq – Member
Chief Kenneth Nwamuocha – Member
Disciplinary Committee
Barr. J. B. C. Obikwelu – Chairman
Barr. Abdulrahman Abdulrahman – Vice Chairman
Barr. Ibrahim Mukhtar – Member
Barr. Wole Ademoyegun – Member
Barr. Bello Galadi – Member
Appeals Committee
Barr. Gandi Umar Mohammed (mni) – Chairman
Barr. Martin Usen Effiong – Vice Chairman
Barr. Bemva Akortsaha – Member
Barr. Bweino Dauda – Member
Barr. Bukar Muazu – Member
