President of the National Association of Nigerian Professional Footballers (NANPF), Sunday Abe, yesterday, commended the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) for lifting the suspension on goalkeeper Adewale Adeyinka, who is involved in a betting investigation.
 
The NPFL said that Adeyinka is now free to register with any club of his choice for the 2025/2026 season, pending further investigation into the allegations.
 
In a statement, Abe described the decision as a “progressive step,” praising the league’s willingness to engage with the players’ union and ensure due process.
 
Abe expressed appreciation to the NPFL for granting the Plateau United FC goalkeeper a fair hearing after his provisional suspension in July over allegations of involvement in betting.
 
He said: “We are pleased that the NPFL granted our member, Adewale Adeyinka, the opportunity for a fair hearing and did not allow unproven allegations to truncate his professional career.
 
“As a union, we will continue to ensure due process is followed and that no player suffers unjustly. We thank the NPFL for listening to our position on this matter.”  He lauded the NPFL for its professional conduct during the inquest and reiterated NANPF’s commitment to protecting the rights and welfare of Nigerian footballers.
 
Abe also urged players to remain disciplined and cooperative when engaging with regulatory bodies, while assuring members of NANPF’s readiness to provide legal and moral support when needed.
 
Also speaking, NPFL Chief Operating Officer, Davidson Owumi, confirmed that Adeyinka honoured the league’s invitation and cooperated fully with investigators.
 
It added that while the goalkeeper had been cleared to resume his career, investigations into the broader matter are ongoing, and others would be invited in due course.
 
The NPFL stressed its commitment to upholding integrity in Nigerian football while ensuring that all disciplinary processes are carried out fairly and transparently.