September 07, (THEWILL) – Former Team Manager of Lobi Stats football club of Makurdi, Mr Gabriel Ogwuche, is to refund ten months’ salaries he allegedly collected without genuine employment status with the club.
The Vice chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lobi Stars club, Mr Dominic Iorfa, who made the disclosure while listening to complaints from players and other support staff of the club at a meeting at Aper Aku township stadium, Makurdi, explained that there was no record to show that Mr Ogwuche was legally employed at the club.
“The former Team Manager’s appointment was signed by the then Secretary of the club, Mr Terzungwe Ichull, it is not clear who interviewed him, as the letter was not signed by the chairman and vice chairman of the club.
According to Mr Iorfa, the meeting with those claiming to be staff of the club became necessary, so that those with claims of employment will come forward and tender valid documents for verification to ascertain its validity.
Describing the recent protest by the purported staff of the club to Government House, Makurdi, as political and of no effect, explained that the government took the decision to dissolve the entire management due to lack of performance and paucity of funds.
Mr Iorfa disclosed that he inherited over 74 players and 40 coaches when he assumed duty in March 2022 and wondered why only three out of the protesters attended the meeting to defend their employment status.
Commenting, the Principal Special Assistant to the governor on Sports, Coach Godwin Wua, described Iorfa as an experienced football administrator who used his experience to remove Lobi Stars Fc from relegation in the just concluded national league tournament.
He pointed out that even though some players took a wrong approach in expressing their grievances, he appealed to Mr Iorfa to temper justice with mercy by reconsidering cases of some players laid off and thanked him for bringing some old players of the club to the fold.
Coach Wua called on Mr Iorfa to remain focused to lead the club to continental matches in the 2022/2023 league year, pledging his support for the club to excel.
Two Assistant Coaches, Moses Uvoughor and Femi Ola Aluko, and an Assistant Security Officer of the club, Mr James Jato, who appeared and defended their status during the meeting, were cleared and recommended for reinstatement to their respective posts.
About the Author
