Remo Stars GM denies assault: ‘I was on Oxygen when ref Ukah claimed I assaulted him’

 By Wale Mustapha

Suspended General Manager of Remo Stars, Ekene Abubakar Adams has denied allegations of his assault on match official in his side’s goalless draw against Gombe United in a Nigeria Premier Football League clash in Ikenne.

Adams was found wanting for an assault on center referee Ndubuisi Ukah at half time, forcing the match officials to decline continuing with the match and had the second half later played the following morning.

“There is no iota of truth in the match’s official claim. That I was alleged to have assaulted Ukah and banned temporarily from all related NPFL activities without any proper investigation and fair hearing on my part from the Interim Management Company, beats my imagination and also raises questions,” Adams told Nigeriafootball.ng.

“This for me is prejudice and a way to cut short the ambition of Remo Stars to finish the season among the top 3 teams and feature in the Super 6 playoff.

“How can I stoop so low, to the level of assaulting a match official? The allegation is just cheap blackmail to rubbish my character and the good pedigree that took me years to build for myself in Nigeria football.

“I did not intend to join issues with the IMC, but as a credible stakeholder in Nigeria’s football family, I just want to put the fact straight. I have never come close to molesting nor traded punches with any match official before or after a game.

“Owing to my health recovery status, I was breathing with the aid of oxygen on the day of the NPFL game. So it was my crime to go into the dressing room to ask questions that needed begging answers from the match officials, as the ref was just out there acting on a script given to him and he perfected it well.”

“If it’s now a crime to go the match officials’ dressing room, it means many club administrators should be banned as well, as the IMC should refer to one that has not gone to the dressing room to ask questions during the match interval,” he continued.

“How demeaning it was and after many appeals, the Ukah refused to continue with the game. At 8:00pm (that night) he hurriedly checked out of his hotel room in the company of a few policemen without informing the host team.

“Not the IMC cared to ask questions about why he did that. To make matters worse, the new official (Reserve Referee) who stood in for him to complete the game added salt to injury, as he was biased.”

“I want to thank all that have shown concern regarding the issue for their love and care. The IMC has done good, telling me to have a break from football.

“Mind you, don’t deviate Adams from crises as being principled, one that stands for justice and never bends the rules. Did I say I didn’t go to the dressing room, I did but never assaulted ref Ukah.”

Adams will represent the good people of the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency in the 10th National Assembly after he clinched his ticket under the platform of the (Labour Party).