Some members of the IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja, have appealed to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to consider reopening the club, which has been under lock and key amid a leadership crisis.
The appeal came after a week-long petition signing exercise at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, where over 2,000 members expressed support for the club’s reopening and alignment with the FCT Minister’s efforts to restore order.
President of the Nigeria Golf Federation (NGF), Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, who is also a member of the club’s new Board of Trustees (BoT), disclosed that a committee led by AVM B.D. Solomon had been set up to coordinate reconciliation efforts and oversee the petition process.
The club’s leadership crisis led to the postponement of its 2025 Annual General Meeting and elections. The IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja, had been embroiled in a leadership crisis, which led to Wike’s intervention.
On April 5, Minister Wike appointed Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, President of the Court of Appeal, as Chairperson of a new Board of Trustees (BoT), replacing Gen. IBM Haruna. Other appointees included Otunba Runsewe, Mrs. Grace Ihonvbere, S.I. Ameh (SAN), Hamid Abbo, Admiral Victor Adedipe (rtd), Chief Patrick Chidolue, Mr. Ben Ikokwu, and Adumu Suleiman.
Gen Haruna, King Alfred Diete- Spiff, Dr Tim Menakaya and Amb. Babagana Kingibe, old members of the BoT were appointed as Patrons of the club.
Wike stressed that the intervention was a result of the FCT Administration’s commitment to restoring order and efficiency to the prestigious club, which had recently experienced internal challenges.
However, three members dissatisfied with the move by Wike secured an interim court order restraining the Minister from inaugurating a new Board of Trustees (BoT) chaired by Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem.
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on April 24 gave its ruling regarding the ongoing leadership dispute at the IBB International Golf and Country Club.
The Court restrained the purported trustees appointed by Nyesom Wike, the Honourable Minister of the FCT, from presiding over the Club’s upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM) scheduled for April 26.
In a bid to stabilize the situation, Minister Wike appointed a ten-member Interim Management Committee (IMC), chaired by Peter Deshi, to oversee the club’s administration.
To avert further unrest, the Federal Government deployed operatives of the Nigeria Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) to secure the premises.
The facility remains under tight surveillance, with access restricted to essential personnel such as security officers and groundskeepers.
Even IMC members are subject to identification checks before entry is granted.
The members who supported the Minister’s intervention, however, expressed their desire for the club to resume operations, citing its importance to the community and the nation at large.
Iyabo Adebola noted that the members’ appeal highlights the need for a quick resolution to the crisis and the reopening of the club, which is a vital recreational and social hub in Abuja
Adebola said the members were willing to comply with the minister’s conditions for reopening, noting they were not part of the legal action taken against him.
“We are appealing to the FCT Minister to kindly consider our request to reopen the IBB International Golf and Country club for the fact that we are not part of the few persons who took legal action against him.
“We have come to agree that the club is owned by the government, and we are ready to abide by the Minister’s conditions for the reopening of the club. We have been fully briefed by the NGF President about the minister’s good intentions and support for the club.”
Nuhu Ahmad stressed that the petition signing exercise is seen as a positive step towards resolving the ongoing leadership crisis that led to the club’s closure.
Ahmad also assured that the members were willing to abide by the minister’s conditions and acknowledge government ownership of the club.
