FOIA summons NPFL boss over StarTimes’ N1.6Billion deal

More troubles may have sprung up for the leadership of Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL), particularly, its chairman, Gbenga Elegbeleye, following a probe by the Freedom of Information Advocates Initiative (FOIA) into the controversial N1.6 billion deal, which the body signed with a Chinese firm, StarTimes, for the broadcast right of the nation’s football league.

The NPFL, in collaboration with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), had signed the deal a few weeks ago in Abuja, which did not go down well with some Nigerians.

However, FOIA has waded into it, requesting Elegbeleye and anyone else involved in the StarTimes’ deal to tell Nigerians within seven days the process that led to it.

A letter signed by FOIA’s Project Director, Chris Darden, with reference No: FOIA/2023/NPFL/0010, addressed to Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, and made available to The Guardian, said: “We monitored a recent announcement you made in company of the NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, and other dignities from the Chinese Embassy, Abuja, wherein you unveiled StarTimes as the exclusive broadcast partner of the NPFL. In view of the above, and in line with Sections 2 (1-4), and 7 of the Freedom of Information Act (2011) (as amended), we are interested in the interested in the painstaking process alluded to by the NPFL President.

“We hereby request from you (or anyone else responsible for the information), within seven (7) days, (I). Copies of advertisement made in national newspapers, wherein interested potential partners were invited to submit their bids and proposals. (II) Dates, and location of where the opening of the submitted bids and proposals took place, and (iii) Copies of authorisation letter from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPE) or any other relevant government agencies that granted you waiver from (I) and (II) above, if any.”

The Guardian learnt, yesterday, that FOIA’s letter was delivered to Elegbeleye’s office during the week at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja. However, no official of the league body was willing to speak on the issue.