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Breaking! Confusion Rocks NFF Serves Amend Motion On Wrong Law Firm We Are Taken Aback – BSN Sports Lead Counsel …Says Justice Delayed Is Not Justice Denied The Nigeria Football Federation case against BSN Sports over publication of unpaid bonuses of the Falconets could not go on as scheduled because the plaintiff lawyer stated wrongly pointing out to the supposed served motion for amendment of their original processes. When the hearing of the case came up on Tuesday, 25th June 2019, at the FCT High Court, Kwali before Justice Anna Iyabeni Akobi, the plaintiff lawyer started by bringing out the wrongly served amendment process filed in court and seemed like a drama and dream to the defendant counsels who have neither seen nor heard about it until that moment. www.bsnsports.com.ng lead counsel, Barrister Ihensekhein Samuel Jnr, an activist, human right and criminal lawyer who had won many high profile cases in the past was surprised to hear the claimant’s lawyer saying that amended process has been duly served to him on the 11th June 2019. BSN Sports’ lead counsels therefor called the attention of the judge, Justice Anna Iyabeni Akobi to that effect then, vehemently objected and smartly argued that they have not been served. The court looking at the endorsement of service actually noted that BSN Sports (the defendant and defendant’s counsels) are not properly served. And the court in its wisdom called for the service of the motion to the defendant lead counsel to correct both service of originating processes sought to be amended and motion to amend as the case was adjourned to 7th October, 2019. In his words: “We are surprised and taken aback by the plaintiff counsel that a process that have not been served on us, which we saw for the first time in court and purportedly was served to a wrong law firm quite different from the substantive counsel handling this matter which is Pathlegal & Co.” Barrister Sam Jnr told journalists. “And so it was in that premise they have to seek for another date in order to correct service of the amended process.” He continued. He laid the blame for the adjournment at the door step of the claimant who failed to properly served the defendant. “The fallout of today’s (Tuesday) proceeding is simply on the hand of the plaintiff who could not take proper step to see that the service was properly served on either the defendant or defendant counsel.” “On our own part, myself (the lead counsel) and my learned colleague (second defense counsel) Barrister Fayaienjigha Israel Jacob are ready and we have even filed our statement of defense, witness statement of note as well as accompany documents and we are ready to move on with the hearing of this case. “This case is to let the world know the truth regarding www.bsnsports.com.ng publication on the unpaid bonuses of the Falconets and some certain state of affairs in glasshouse. “We are much ready but as it goes and it stays, justice delayed will not be justice denied. “The plaintiff for whatever reason are not able to move their motion to regularise the process they have filed before the court as they seek to amend their court process that was served before this court and that has not served on us and we kicked vehemently against it because service of court process in our jurisprudence whether in civil or criminal matter is very important as it goes to the nutshell and jurisdiction of the case itself. And the court in fairness ordered that will be served that motion for them to amend their processes, statement of claim and writ of summons that was served earlier and that we have received after today’s court proceeding .” He assured all and sundry and all football fans following the case that they are capable of arguing the case to a logical conclusion where justice will prevail at the end end of the case. “On our own side, we will put again another strong defense to what they have served so that at the end of the day, justice can be said to have been done in this case. The defense counsels believed that the court in its wisdom will allow justice to prevail and the truth will be known to the world. “With the way it is going, at the conclusion of this matter, there will be a just determination of some certain state of affairs relating to the Publisher, www.bsnsports.com.ng, Mr. Niyi Busari and Ms Ruth David who is acting on behalf of the NFF over unpaid allowance and bonuses of Falconets before the world cup are actually paid or not.” He concluded. NFF had dragged an online sports newspaper, www.bsnsports.com.ng to FCT HigC court in Kwali over a publication of a report on unpaid bonuses of the Falconets before the U20 Women’s World Cup in France titled “U20 World Cup: Allowance Scandal Hits Falconets.

Published

6 years ago

June 26, 2019

…We Are Taken Aback – BSN Sports Lead Counsel

…Says Justice Delayed Is Not Justice Denied

The Nigeria Football Federation case against BSN Sports over publication of unpaid bonuses of the Falconets could not go on as scheduled because the plaintiff lawyer stated wrongly pointing out to the supposed served motion for amendment of their original processes.

When the hearing of the case came up on Tuesday, 25th June 2019, at the FCT High Court, Kwali before Justice Anna Iyabeni Akobi, the plaintiff lawyer started by bringing out the wrongly served amendment process filed in court and seemed like a drama and dream to the defendant counsels who have neither seen nor heard about it until that moment.

www.bsnsports.com.ng lead counsel, Barrister Ihensekhein Samuel Jnr, an activist, human right and criminal lawyer who had won many high profile cases in the past was surprised to hear the claimant’s lawyer saying that amended process has been duly served to him on the 11th June 2019.

BSN Sports’ lead counsels therefor called the attention of the judge, Justice Anna Iyabeni Akobi to that effect then, vehemently objected and smartly argued that they have not been served. The court looking at the endorsement of service actually noted that BSN Sports (the defendant and defendant’s counsels) are not properly served. And the court in its wisdom called for the service of the motion to the defendant lead counsel to correct both service of originating processes sought to be amended and motion to amend as the case was adjourned to 7th October, 2019.

In his words: “We are surprised and taken aback by the plaintiff counsel that a process that have not been served on us, which we saw for the first time in court and purportedly was served to a wrong law firm quite different from the substantive counsel handling this matter which is Pathlegal & Co.” Barrister Sam Jnr told journalists.

“And so it was in that premise they have to seek for another date in order to correct service of the amended process.” He continued.

He laid the blame for the adjournment at the door step of the claimant who failed to properly served the defendant.

“The fallout of today’s (Tuesday) proceeding is simply on the hand of the plaintiff who could not take proper step to see that the service was properly served on either the defendant or defendant counsel.”

“On our own part, myself (the lead counsel) and my learned colleague (second defense counsel) Barrister Fayaienjigha Israel Jacob are ready and we have even filed our statement of defense, witness statement of note as well as accompany documents and we are ready to move on with the hearing of this case.

“This case is to let the world know the truth regarding www.bsnsports.com.ng publication on the unpaid bonuses of the Falconets and some certain state of affairs in glasshouse.

“We are much ready but as it goes and it stays, justice delayed will not be justice denied.

“The plaintiff for whatever reason are not able to move their motion to regularise the process they have filed before the court as they seek to amend their court process that was served before this court and that has not served on us and we kicked vehemently against it because service of court process in our jurisprudence whether in civil or criminal matter is very important as it goes to the nutshell and jurisdiction of the case itself. And the court in fairness ordered that will be served that motion for them to amend their processes, statement of claim and writ of summons that was served earlier and that we have received after today’s court proceeding .”

He assured all and sundry and all football fans following the case that they are capable of arguing the case to a logical conclusion where justice will prevail at the end end of the case.

“On our own side, we will put again another strong defense to what they have served so that at the end of the day, justice can be said to have been done in this case.

The defense counsels believed that the court in its wisdom will allow justice to prevail and the truth will be known to the world.

“With the way it is going, at the conclusion of this matter, there will be a just determination of some certain state of affairs relating to the Publisher, www.bsnsports.com.ng, Mr. Niyi Busari and Ms Ruth David who is acting on behalf of the NFF over unpaid allowance and bonuses of Falconets before the world cup are actually paid or not.” He concluded.

NFF had dragged an online sports newspaper, www.bsnsports.com.ng to FCT HigC court in Kwali over a publication of a report on unpaid bonuses of the Falconets before the U20 Women’s World Cup in France titled “U20 World Cup: Allowance Scandal Hits Falconets.

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ITPN FCT Chapter Ends 3-Day Executive Retreat For Professional Impact, Industry Growth

Published

6 days ago

October 28, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The executive members of the Institute for Tourism Professionals of Nigeria (ITPN), FCT Chapter, led by the Chairperson, Dr. Fatima Obadaki Sule, have successfully concluded a transformative three-day retreat focused on advancing the 7-point agenda that took cognisance of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for the socio economic growth and development of the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja in particular and the country as a whole through tourism, hospitality and allied trades sector held in Abuja over the weekend.

In a statement jointly signed by Chairman, ITPN, FCT Chapter Dr. Fatima Obadaki Sule, _FITPN and Publicity Sec. ITPN, FCT Chapter Ahmed Mohammed Sule on Tuesday in Abuja

In his remarks as special guest of honour who also declared the retreat opened, the National President of ITPN, Chief Abiodun Odusanwo, called on the leadership of the FCT Chapter of the Institute to lead by example and ensure the interests and objectives of the Institute come first in running the affairs of the Chapter, noting that advancing best professionalism practices amongst all the members should be the guiding principle.

Chief Odusanwo further reiterated that, as torch bearers of the Institute in the nation’s capital, they should constantly seek for collaboration and cooperation between the public and private sector stakeholders and key operators to promote the ideals of professionalism, skills and capacity development, career upscaling and industry best practices that the Institute firmly stands for,

While applauding the idea of holding retreat, he noted the exercise as very apt and timely and a dynamic platform for strategic discussions and collaborative engagement among the EXCOs, aimed at repositioning the chapter for greater professional impact and industry leadership in the travel tourism, hospitality and allied trades in the nation’s capital in line with the federal government’s desire for country’s economic diversification through tourism as the main hub of the non-oil sector.

Earlier in her welcome address, Dr. Fatima Obadaki Sule stated that the idea behind the retreat was to enable members of her executive team to be abreast of her vision and mission statement in the successful piloting of the affairs of the Chapter which she wrapped up in her 7- Points agenda, adding that it explicitly summed up the goals and objectives of the Institute as a body of practising tourism professionals in the country and her utmost goal of placing the FCT chapter of the Institute above all the chapters as the Kapital Centre of Excellence in Tourism.

She reeled out her 7-point agenda, which formed the core of the retreat and includes:

Organize fitness sessions and mental awareness campaigns, mentorship program for youth, strengthen collaboration with key stakeholders, promote sustainable tourism and leverage technological innovations, enhance professional development, raise awareness of tourist attractions in FCT and support local entrepreneurs.

She then solicited for the support and active participation of members of the executive present at the retreat which she said was crucial for the success of the Institute in achieving progress and moving forward as a professional body.

During the three days’ retreat which began on Friday 24th and ended on Sunday 26th, executive members shared insights, reviewed operational practices in the industry sector, proffered laudable ideas and suggestions as well as mapped out actionable plans to achieve the objectives of the 7- Points agenda.

The Retreat proper was kick started with the presentation by the Guest Speaker, Dr. Taiwo Famogbiyele, Registrar of the Institute on his paper which x-rayed the 7- Points Agenda of the Chairperson of the FCT Chapter of the Institute. He noted that the Institute for Tourism Professionals of Nigeria is a body of practising professionals and a force to be reckoned with because tourism and hospitality sector remains one of the fastest growing industries and a critical driver of economic diversification, job creation and national image-building.

He noted that the retreat was critical to achieving a well-coordinated team work and for fine-tuning the program plans of the leadership of the Institute at the Chapter level for smooth implementation, adding that it will enhance team unity and cohesion, bring about clear and measurable action framework and improve accountability, programme visibility/sustainability and concluded with a step by step exposition of the 7- Points Agenda bordering on relevance, implementable means and expected impactful outcome of each.

Key highlights of resolutions reached during the retreat among others, includes: Unity and Collaborative Actions by Members; Strategic Leadership through Participation at national events; Leveraging on Internal Expertise and Networks to tap from the resource and expertise of members in critical national programmes; Focus on 3- Pillar Strategic Framework – *Wellness and Fitness Initiatives, *Youth Mentorship and Career Development Programmes to address critical gap in hospitality and tourism education, Sustainable Tourism Practices to address environmental, social and economic sustainability; Critical Stakeholder Engagement encompassing all sub-sectors of the tourism, hospitality and allied trades; Organizational Development Imperatives involving all members; The Integration of Physical and Mental Wellbeing with dedicated sessions on incorporating regular aerobic exercises to combat work-related stress and boost overall resilience among members.

The Executive Retreat which was the first of its kind by any chapter of the Institute across the country, was highly interactive and underscored the need for robust partnerships and team work targeted at members for resilience and show of commitment for the impactful growth and development of the Institute in the interest of professionalizing the tourism sector as well as for nation building.

The retreat ended on a refreshing and uplifting note, with members recommitting to the 7-points agenda and calling for broader stakeholder involvement to foster a vibrant, inclusive tourism ecosystem in the FCT and nationwide. This initiative aligns with the President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s national goals for sustainable development as well as position ITPN as a proactive force in Nigeria’s creative, tourism and hospitality industry.

In conclusion, members of the executive at the retreat session took time off on day 3 of the exercise and embarked on an excursion tour of one of the prolific eco-tourism spots in the nation’s capital -The Kaspaland and Kayak Resort, where they refreshed, socialized and networked with a renewed commitment to work together and foster best practices in the hospitality and tourism in collaboration with critical stakeholders to support efforts toward sustainable tourism development in Nigeria.

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