Lagos court upholds Fouad Oki’s impeachment as Lagos FA chairman

By Dayo Awoniyi

The Lagos High Court has upheld the impeachment of Fouad Oki, former Chairman of the Lagos State Football Association (LSFA), after rejecting his appeal for reinstatement.

The court’s decision, delivered by Justice Olalekan A. Oresanya on March 11, 2025, ruled that Oki’s lawsuit lacked merit.

Oki’s impeachment followed a vote of no confidence by the LSFA’s Congress in March 2024, where 13 out of 14 members voted in favor of his removal.

The grounds for his impeachment included allegations of unilaterally altering the LSFA’s statutes, which were seen as damaging to football development in Lagos.

Justice Oresanya pointed out that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the LSFA were necessary parties in the suit, and that the defendants could not be personally sued for their official actions. Consequently, the court dismissed the case on the grounds of lack of jurisdiction.

In a statement following the ruling, Hajji Liameed Gafar, an LSFA spokesperson, downplayed the court’s decision as a “victory.”

Instead, Gafar framed it as a “significant step towards improved football management and a better understanding of youth empowerment through the sport.”

He emphasized that the focus should be on adhering to the statutes, rules, and regulations that govern football, asserting, “It’s not about any single person. It’s about consistently doing what is right in football.”