Call For Investigation : Nigeria Referees Association Ekiti State Council Allegedly Field Male Referee In Place Of Female
Written by News Desk on October 1, 2024
Opinion By: Sunday Agunbiade
It has been a hue and cry in Ekiti state Football Referee Council following an alleged atrocity by the Acting Chairman,Onilearo Kayode and Secretary, Adegoke Olusola who dubiously fielded a male referee to register for a slot meant for a female referee.
The available information reveals that Adegoke Marvelous Ayokunle was the culpable arbiter who after passing the last examination in the year 2023 was not meant to be fielded again in the year 2024 except a female to register every year.
The stakeholders have however called for proper investigation into what they describe as unwholesome practice and dispense justice for the leadership of the arbiters in the state for maligning the good image of the Association, particularly at the national level.
“It all started during the recently conducted year 2024 NRA Examination where Adegoke marvelous Ayokunle was alleged to have dubiously registered as female referee to deceive NRA examination committee. The stakeholders who were not happy with Onilearo Kayode action swung into action to unravel the truth of the situation with a view to returning sanctity to the state referees.
The duo allegedly conspired to register Marvelous against the rules of engagement of NRA Examination Committee and it’s a betrayal of trust for public official to deny a qualified candidate against the son of the state secretary who was largely unqualified due to his masculine class.”
However, stakeholders have vowed not to remain silent on issues that concern the referees council, especially ones capable of sending the council to dark ages.
They have therefore pleaded with the Sanni Zubair led NRA not to sweep this grievous offence under the carpet and dispense justice to the culprits so asto put the name of the Association in good stead.
“Firstly, Kudos to the intelligence and efforts of the supervisor during this NRA examination.His tenacity and his uncompromising traits during the NRA promotion Exams led to the discovery of few of atrocities performed by Ekiti Foitball Referees Council
How on earth would the council dubiously and deliberately registered Adegoke marvelous Ayokunle Grade 2 referee for NRA exams in year 2024, who had already passed same NRA exams Grade 2 in year 2023 to deceive NRA exams committee.This is nothing but an alleged impersonation punishable under the rule book ”
It was discovered that Adegoke marvelous Ayokunle (MALE) who passed NRA exam last year 2023 was allegedly registered this year 2024 as female Referee to deceive NRA exams committee to impersonate for his brother Adegoke prosperity Ayomiposi and Son of council secretary(Mr Adegoke Olusola).
” As if that was not enough, there was an alleged atrocity peroetrated by Ekiti Referees Council as the culprits were also caught registered one Male Referee (Adebayo Segun grade3 referee) who wrote NRA exam last year 2023 and they also registered him for 2024 NRA exam but he was disqualified by exam committee for not attaching any document with his registration form.”
It will be pertinent to note after some buzz and intelligence, the concerned stakeholders made their findings and discovered that all the acts were allegedly perpetrated by the acting Chairman of Ekiti Referees leadership headed by Onilearo Ayodele Kayode and Secretary, Adegoke Olusola Clement
The issue of impersonation is a grave offence and no one is ignorant of what the rule book states about the NRA exams *”That MALE Referees write NRA exam every two years while FEMALE Referees write exam every year”* but despite that it is sad that the law was bent here by the set of people that are supposed to lay good precedents for their members. This shameful act has caused great embarrassment to Ekiti referees council.
It is on this note that the concerned stakeholders took the decision to write this to point the attention of the NRA leadership to this action capable of debasing the good name of NRA if not properly checked.
In conclusion, we are calling on the NRA national body to intervene and apply necessary sanction before things get out of hand and we recommend that based on these atrocities committed by these culprits(Onilearo Ayodele Kayode and Adegoke Olusola Clement) has contravened the extant rules of the NRA STATUTE, stringent measures should be taken.
This actions in them aiding and abeting unethical acts of impersonation and examination malpractice is regarded as serious Misconduct as stated in Article 32, section 2 of Nigeria Referees Association (NRA) STATUTE.
This has caused great embarrassment to the entire football ecosystem in Ekiti and Nigeria.
In view of the foregoing,we are calling for the leadership to explore the full force of laws in line with Article 32, section 3(c) of Nigeria Referees Association NRA STATUTE.
