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NFF defends Ugborodo Stadium contract termination as Monimichelle files ₦10bn lawsuit over alleged breach
By Dayo Awoniyi
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has defended its decision to terminate the contract of Monimichelle Sports, the firm handling the construction of the FIFA-funded mini stadium in Ugborodo, Delta State, citing failure to resume work on-site within the agreed timeframe despite receiving nearly $500,000 in project funds.
NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, confirmed the development while addressing journalists, explaining that the termination was carried out in line with FIFA directives following multiple warnings to the contractor.
“There’s no new contractor. The only thing was that we gave him two weeks to return to the site and reach the level of the money paid to him. FIFA was aware, and he did not go back to the site, so it stands terminated because it is FIFA’s money,” Sanusi stated.
The Ugborodo project, valued at approximately $1.2 million, was designed as a twin facility to the FIFA Forward Programme mini stadium in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State — which has been operational for nearly two years. Both projects were initiated under FIFA’s global initiative to enhance football infrastructure in member associations.
However, Monimichelle Sports, led by its CEO Ebi Egbe, has rejected the NFF’s claims and filed a ₦10 billion lawsuit against the federation over what it described as the “illegal termination” of its contract and “defamation of corporate reputation.”
In a social media post, Egbe alleged that corruption and vested interests within Nigerian football administration were behind the decision.
“Corruption is a pervasive issue in Nigerian football, and Monimichelle Sports will not contribute to it. We are currently in court with the NFF over the illegal termination of our contract and are seeking ₦10bn in damages for defamation and misinformation,” Egbe said.
Meanwhile, Harrison Jalla, President of the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria (PFAN) Task Force, confirmed that Monimichelle had indeed received payments for the Ugborodo project.
“On October 25, 2020, a payment of $262,116.28 was made to Monimichelle Sports, followed by another $306,045.52 on May 7, 2021. These are the only disbursements so far,” Jalla stated.
As the legal battle between Monimichelle and the NFF continues, questions persist over the management of FIFA Forward funds and the long-delayed completion of the Ugborodo mini stadium, which remains abandoned years after its launch.
