Lagos FA Crisis: Embattled Chairman To Know Fate Today

The fate of the Lagos State Football Association chairman, Fouad Oki, will be decided today, OSUN DEFENDER gathered.

OSUN DEFENDER learnt that the LSFA board members will meet at their office on Ogunlana Drive, Surulere, Lagos today to decide on the embattled chairman’s future.

The medium recalls that Oki was suspended by the LSFA board last Tuesday for “gross misconduct” by a simple majority of five to four after a quorum was formed in a meeting.

Video footage showed Oki hitting at a camera meant to cover the meeting after he allegedly punched his vice chairman Liameed Gafar.

Also, the board members had accused Oki of not attending the NFF Congress in September with no excuse and without the knowledge of the LSFA board. He was also accused of changing the association’s logo without the approval of the board and state congress.

They faulted Oki for preventing clubs in Lagos — in the Nigerian National League and the Nigeria Premier Football League — from streaming their home games on their respective social media platforms and mandating clubs in the state competing in the NNL to pay a fee of N500,000 for access to the Mobolaji Johnson Arena and N800,000 from clubs participating in the NPFL.

OSUN DEFENDER learnt that both Oki and Gafaar and members of the LSFA board were summoned to a meeting by the Lagos State Chief of Staff, Tayo Ayinde, last Thursday in a bid to resolve the lingering crisis rocking the body.

During the meeting, which reportedly lasted for about four hours, it was gathered that Ayinde asked Oki and Gafaar if they could continue to work together. While Oki agreed to continue to work in his position with his vice chairman, Gafaar, it was learnt, declined.

Ayinde further relayed Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s message to the duo, insisting that they must work together to develop football in the state. He also asked Gafaar what he wanted to be done to resolve the crisis.