Para-Powerlifting: Panel says Queen Uboh-Idris violated Code of Ethics, recommends life ban

Lagos -The Investigative and Disciplinary Committee set up by the Nigeria Para-Powerlifting Federation (NPPF) on Friday said the federation’s embattled President, Queen Uboh-Idris, violated the Code of Conduct guiding the federation.

The head of the panel, Fred Edoreh, in a brief with the media on the panel’s findings and recommendations after one month of activities, gave an overview of the report.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NPPF had set up a five-man panel to look into the infractions committed by its president.

The federation also gave it the mandate to recommend disciplinary actions.

The panel which concluded the one-month investigative activities has Edoreh as Chairman, Pius Asaba as Secretary, with Sunny Odebode, Samuel Eke-Omah and Omende Thompson as other members.

Edoreh said the panel made painstaking efforts to make far-reaching decisions on the allegations of infractions committed by Uboh-Idris, and found out there were some lapses in her manner of administration.

“We held a meeting and we decided that we are going to operate on the code of ethics of the federation given by the Sports Ministry.

“We spoke with the accused who is the president, board members and many stakeholders of the NPPF. We even wrote to the Sports Ministry to ensure that we gave a fair hearing.

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“All our reports are cross-examined and we also double-checked our facts whenever in doubt and we were able to arrive at our conclusions,’’ he said.

Edoreh disclosed that several invitations were sent to Uboh-Idris, but she did not at any point honour the invitation.

“We spoke with Uboh-Idris, but she did not respond to us. We wrote her several letters of summons and, as the chairman, I spoke with her on several occasions on the need to respect the constituted panel.

“Uboh-Idris told us that if she must accept our invitation, then, we should send a return ticket to her in Canada and also provide an accommodation at Oriental Hotels.

“She also demanded that we pay 2,000 dollars for the upkeep of her children to a nanny in Canada when she would be away to Nigeria. Obviously, the terms and conditions cannot be met.

“So, officially, Uboh-Idris did not appear before the panel. The only thing we had was some form of communication and few documents at our disposal,’’ he said.

Edoreh said the allegations against Uboh-Idris were grievous, and they include arbitrariness, unilateral decision-making and bad governance.

“The allegations were grievous and we eventually found out that there were indeed issues of unilateral actions and bad governance. She did not adhere to the code of conduct of the federation.

“The Federation is not operating a Constitution, which is a problem. So, they are operating a code of governance handed over to the federations by the Sports Ministry.

“Some of the actions of the president were at variance with the code of governance. So, we need to look into all the books painstakingly so as to make sure that we have a fair judgment.

“I can also say that even though Uboh-Idris is a resourceful person, by organising two world events in Nigeria in 2019 and 2020, and she was able to raise funds for it, but she should have carried all the board members along,’’ he said.

NAN reports that the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports Development had earlier condemned Uboh-Idris for actions which embarrassed the country.

The ministry had asked her to explain the reason behind the damaging actions she took against the country’s interests.

She reportedly used her private e-mail for official correspondence, committed Nigeria to the hosting of three World Cups without recourse to procedure or clearance from the Ministry as the supervising authority.

“She also unilaterally set up committees without input from the Ministry.

“She appointed a consultant without informing the supervising Ministry, denied athletes accreditation, locked out officials, even as she withheld information on the number of participating countries until the start of the tournament.

“All these infractions embarrassed the country.’’

The Ministry had said her actions were a disrespect to the country and must be corrected in order not to send the wrong signals to the international community.

“The Ministry is aware that the board of Para-Powerlifting has stepped into the matter and the Ministry is monitoring what is happening.’’

The NPPF board, going by the recommendations of the panel, is now expected to impeach Uboh-Idris and also impose a life ban on her from all the federation’s activities.(NAN)