By Silvernews
The leadership of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) received a boost on Tuesday as a serving board member, Mr. Ugo Udezue, issued a strong-worded rebuttal dismissing claims that the board elected in January 2022 has completed its four-year mandate.
In a detailed statement circulated to stakeholders, Udezue, who represents the Southeast and chairs the federation’s Sports and Marketing Committee, described as “legally flawed, factually incomplete and misleading” a document titled “State of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF)”, which asserted that the board’s tenure expired on January 31, 2026.
Tenure commencement contested
Udezue argued that although elections were conducted on January 31, 2022, the board did not assume lawful operational authority until October 2022, when it received formal recognition and inauguration from the supervising sports authorities.
According to him, following the election, the board was not immediately recognised, administrative control was not transferred, and an interim structure remained in place.
“A board cannot logically be deemed to exercise tenure during a period in which it neither held recognised authority nor exercised full administrative control,” he stated.
He maintained that tenure should be calculated from the date of formal recognition, not from the election ceremony.
Constitutional authority remains
The rebuttal also rejected claims that there is currently no constitutionally recognised NBBF board in office.
The statement stressed that no Congress has been convened to dissolve the board, no elective Congress has been conducted, no judicial pronouncement has declared the office vacant, and no directive has been issued by world basketball governing body FIBA nullifying the board.
“Media declarations do not dissolve constitutional bodies,” the statement emphasised.
Membership clarification
Udezue further faulted the inclusion of two individuals described as “Concerned Members of the Outgone NBBF Board,” stating that they were neither part of the board elected in January 2022 nor constitutionally installed as members.
He cited provisions of the NBBF Constitution which stipulate that vacancies occur only under specific conditions and that replacements must be selected by Congress.
Allegations dismissed
The board member described allegations of financial mismanagement, undisclosed sponsorship funds and conflict of interest as unsubstantiated, noting that no documentary evidence, audit reports or court filings were attached to the circulating document.
He insisted that governance disputes must be resolved through constitutional processes, including Congress proceedings or judicial recourse.
International considerations
The statement warned that the agitation comes at a sensitive time as Nigeria prepares for international qualifiers in France, cautioning that institutional instability could affect partnerships and Nigeria’s global basketball standing.
Udezue maintained that the board remains the recognised governing authority of the Nigeria Basketball Federation until constitutionally replaced and urged stakeholders to pursue lawful channels in resolving disputes.
