By Lekan Olaseinde
The leadership of Nigeria Judo Federation (NJF) has dissociated itself from a purported judo competition slated for Edo ntate next month, urging all affiliated states under the federation to distance themselves from the tourney or face stringent sanctions.
This was contained in a statement issued and signed by the new president of the federation, Dr. Musa Oshodi, and other members which included: Alhaji Mohammed Aliyu, Mr. Gbayi Segun, Alhaji Damisa Suliman, Dr. Echeruo Mathew, Suleiman Aliyu Ahmed and Mrs. Gom Dooter Grace and made available to newsmen.
The tourney, according to the statement, was put together hurriedly as a face saving ploy by the former president and secretary of the federation which was never in the calendar of activity of the NJF.
Judo referees and umpires have also notified not to honour such illegitimate tournament and the body had responded positively to the directive.
It would be recalled that NJF has passed a vote of no confidence on its former president, Prince Timothy Nsirim, after he was found wanting on various offences ranging from administrative ineptitude, lack of respect for the board members, autocratic leadership style, lack of transparency and poor communication with members at a congress of the federation held recently in Abuja.
Moreover, the federation also has to uphold International Judo Federation’s Swiss law which states that the president of Judo Federations must have been a judoka of at least a Dan grade.
