Barely 24 hours after FIBA issued a November 30 ultimatum to the factions of the NBBF – to reach an amicable solution or face sanctions – the Musa Kida board claims it has received a letter from the apex body on immediate directives to other National associations.
A letter supposedly issued by FIBA and signed by its secretary general, Patrick Baumann declaring all official correspondence concerning Nigeria basketball be addressed to the Abuja Kida NBBF surfaced on Thursday.
A copy of the letter was posted by nbbfonline twitter user (the Kida board’s official handle) with the tweet: #BREAKING
@FIBA has directed all National Federations to deal with only the Musa Kida led Nigeria Basketball Federation
#nbbf
Credit: Twitter | nbbfonline
It’s important to note that the initial communiqué issued by FIBA was sent to and received by both the Tijjani Umar and Musa Kida boards, but no member of the former’s board has confirmed or denied the existence of the new development.
Items 5 and 6 of the communiqué stated as follows:
5. FIBA will communicate, as of now and until 30 November 2017 solely with the persons named as board members on 13 June 2017 namely Mr Ahmadu Musa Kida as NBBF President and Mr Babatunde Ogunade as Vice President using nigeriabballinfo@yahoo.com for official correspondence.
6. FIBA maintains that while this letter clarifies the line of communication between FIBA and its member and divisions, on one hand, and NBBF on the other, it shall not be understood as a recognition by FIBA of the management elected on 13 June 2017.
The ongoing crisis in the NBBF came to light after separate elections were held into the NBBF last month.
Two factions emerged prior the elections which held in Kano and Abuja representing a group that protested new election guidelines calibrated by the Ministry of Sports and the other in favor.
Further embarrassment followed after Nigeria was kicked out of the FIBA Africa 3×3 event for fielding two teams – each named by separate boards of the NBBF.
Earlier this month, the two factions also announced separate lists of invited players for the 2017 FIBA Women’s Afrobasket.
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