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Amobi Ezeaku: Nigerian sports lawyer makes FIFA’s five Pro Bono counsels
By Wale Mustapha
Sports legal luminary, Barrister Ezeaku Amobi made history recently as he was named among the five selected counsels from Africa for the newly established FIFA Pro-Bono counsels.
Barr. Amobi was has once served as Team Manager of Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL side, Rangers Int’l is among the first-ever independent integrity experts and pro bono counsel groups which it revealed in a statement, with 41 members appointed.
Amobi and his four other Africans made the list of 20 pro bono counsel appointed by the world football governing body, with the four others from South Africa, Kenya, Malawi and Tanzania appointed from the pool of over 100 applicants.
The Pro Bono counsels are expected to help guarantee the rights of individuals who lack the necessary financial means to defend themselves before FIFA’s judicial bodies.
Barrister Amobi is the youngest administrator to win the NPFL after Rangers won the title during his time with the club in 2016.
According to FIFA statement to confirm the appointment, the selected counsels will be: “Assisting with the necessary investigations into potential breaches of the FIFA regulations and will be entrusted by FIFA to apply their professional knowledge in their respective fields in order to, amongst other functions, gather appropriate evidence, engage with third parties and represent or support FIFA in proceedings.
“In addition, as an essential component of FIFA’s legal aid system, the newly appointed pro bono counsel will perform a crucial role in guaranteeing the rights of individuals who would otherwise lack the financial means to defend themselves appropriately before FIFA’s judicial bodies.”
