BY SUNDAY AKINTOYE
Following the suspension of Chairman of Badagry Divisional Football Association Dr Martins Osondu and his board members by Lagos State Football Association, LSFA over gross misconduct and abuse of office recently, the new caretaker committee led by Emokpae Osahon and the three others resumed duties Thursday morning to oversee the activities of the division until further notice.
Osahon assumes the role of Chairman, Abel Sohe is appointed as Programme Director, while Taiwo Kool is appointed as Chief Disciplinary Officer, as Zainab Adegeshin retains her position as Secretary of the division.
Speaking further, Programme Director,Kool told our correspondent on phone that the members of caretaker committee had resumed office on Thursday morning without any fear or intimidation saying that there would be a meeting between caretaker committee and technical mebers of the BDFA tomorrow at the secretatiat.
“Our meeting tomorrow with technical committee is to discuss the programmes of BDFA and other issues that would make the division forward and we are happy to announce that the responses from technical members of BDFA is very positive,”he said.
Meanwhile the board of the Lagos State Football Association met Monday, August 11, 2025, at its Ogunlana Drive office, Surulere, Lagos to decide on the plethora of fraudulent accusations and gross misconduct levelled against the immediate past Chairman of Badagry Divisional Football Association, Dr. Osondu Martins
The decision to summarily suspend the embattled BDFA Chairman, alongside other members of his board, was made after several hours of deliberations by the FA board, the Ethics and Disciplinary Committee members and some stakeholders.
The Lagos State Football Association led by Hajji Gafar Olawale Liameed, painstakingly reached and placed a suspension on Osondu Martins Ibegbu, after a thorough examination of documents and evidences that no in small ways, indicted him for gross misconduct, fraudulent practices and abuse of office.
It also found other board members of the BDFA, culpable and equally placed them on suspension.
The statement of the board Lagos FA and signed by its Secretary, Mrs. Vera Hycient- Okechukwu, reads; After a careful observation of all weighty documentary evidence presented before it that erode the credibility and integrity of the Lagos State Football Association and growth and Nigeria in particular, the Lagos State Football Association hereby decides as follows;
- The Lagos State Football Association wishes to state clearly that adequate invitation notice was served to the Chairman, Badagry Divisional Football, Dr. Osondu Martins and its entire board for fair hearing on August 11, 2025. It is noted that two (2) of their board members failed to attend the facts- finding meeting.
- In line with the LSFA Statutes, Article 14. Expulsion/Dismissal states that the General Assembly may suspend or dismiss a member, body or person if: Article 14(1), “It seriously violates the Statutes, regulations, directives or decisions of FIFA, CAF, WAFU, NFF and LSFA” and Article 14(2). The State Executive Committee may place suspension or dismissal of a member, person or body on the agenda of the General Assembly. The State Executive Committee may also dismiss a member, person or body provisionally.
- Relying on item (2) above, The Lagos State Football Association hereby with immediate effect suspends the Chairman, Badagry Divisional Football Association, Dr. Osondu Martins, from all football related matters in Lagos, for gross misconduct, fraud, extortion impersonation, sexual harassment and misuse of office.
- In addition to item (3) above and for failure to meet Board Members obligations on the gross misconduct of the Chairman, Badagry Divisional Football Association, the Lagos State Football Association with immediate effect suspends the entire Board Members of Badagry Divisional Football Association from all football related matters in Lagos.
- While the Chairman and other Board Members of Badagry Divisional Football Association are suspended, they must not carry out any work duties ans must not come into the Badagry Divisional Football Association Secretariat, unless sanctioned by the appointed Football administrator.
- The Lagos State Football Association shall further subject the weighty allegations for further investigation by the Ethics and Disciplinary Committee. They must co-operate and must be available to answer and work related investigation with the Ethics and Disciplinary Committee.
- The Lagos State Football Association shall refer our decisions for ratification by the distinguished LSFA Congress.
8.The Lagos State Football Association hereby appoints with immediate effect a Football Administrator, named Osahon Emokpae, to be supported by Abel Sohe and Taiwo Kool.
