Fouad Oki impeached as Lagos FA chairman

Fouad Oki impeached as Lagos FA chairman

...Gafar Liameed takes over mantle

By Akeem Busari

Less than a year he was celebratedy as the best to happen to football in Lagos State, eminent politician, Ogbeni Fouad Oki has been swept aside as chairman of Lagos State Football Association.

Replacing him is a grassroots football developer and immediate vice chairman, Gafar Liameed.

As early as 8:00am Saturday March 23, those who decided they have had enough of Oki gathered at the state Secretariat for an Extraordinary General Assembly and unanimously gave a vote of no confidence to the embattled former Fouad Oki, as he was impeached by the 12 out of 14 members of the congress.

Amongst many grievous allegations made against Oki, are maladministration, high-handedness, corruption and fraudulent practices.

Oki was also accused of single handedly and unilaterally changing the existing statutes of the Lagos FA, to suit his aggrandisement to the detriment of the game in the state. Even as he was accused to have taken football matters in Lagos State to the Lagos High Court, an action which contravenes the global football best practices.

The extraordinary general assembly Lagos the State FA was witnessed by the representatives of Nigeria Football Federation, Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu, NFF 1st Vice-President and Mallam Sani Ali,Chairman Associations, as well as ex-Nigeria international player and also former Chairman of Lagos FA, Engr. Waidi Akanni and Prince Anthony Adeyinka Adeboye, Special Assistant to Minister for Sports on Grassroots Sports Development.

Amongst several mind-boggling accusations levelled against Oki, is the illegal withdrawal of over N40 million from the FA accounts without a recourse to the members of the board.

The congress after due process, therefore declared Oki impeached and immediately voted Gafar Liameed as the new chairman of the state FA.

In his acceptance speech, Liameed described his new position as a call to service. While assuring all stakeholders that football in the state, would no longer be business as usual, but football business, as normal.

"This is a huge task, but I want to assure you all, that together, we'll bring back the glorious days of foofball in Lagos State.

"It won't be business as usual, but football business, as normal. Together, we'll work to ensure that Lagos State is not left behind in football matters," the amiable and renowned football administrator stated.