By Amaechi Agbo

The management of Nigeria National League side, Bimo Sporting Club of Ogidi, Anambra state has demanded the sum of six hundred and seven million naira compensation from the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF and the NNL management for the unjust and unethical expulsion of the club from the 2017/2018 leagues season.

The club which play in the Northern Conference of the league and use Abuja as home were in September 2018 expelled from the league by the NNL management over rule violation.

Bimo was expelled following the team’s failure to honour to consecutive matches – week 9 and 10 – of the league, hence the expulsion.

Bimo, prior to the expulsion had accused the NNL management of aiding and abating match fixing in the league.

However, following dialogues and meetings as well as authorisation by the NFF, the club was reinstated into the league for the 2018/2019 league season.

However, after the conclusion of the 2018/19 season, the club have written to both NFF and NNL demanding N.7 billion compensation “for the monumental damages caused the club by the unjust expulsion.”

In a letter titled ““Demand for the payment of a compensation of six hundred and seven million naira (N607, 000, 000) by the NFF and NLL to Bimo Sporting Club for the unjust and unethical expulsion of the club by the NFF and NNL in the 2017/2018 season” signed by the club’s chairman, Chinedu Okoye and dated July 31^st, 2019, the club among other things noted that following both parties’ failure to respond to an earlier letter written to them on the 10^th of June, 2019 after the three weeks deadline they gave elapsed, the management further gave the NFF and NNL extra one week deadline or they would report the matter to Court of arbitration for Sports, CAS.

“Please accept the compliments of the management of Bimo Sporting Club, an Abuja based professional football club side that played in the Northern Conference of the NNL in this just concluded 2018/2019 NNL season.

“The Club management of Bimo Sporting Club wrote you an earlier letter on the above matter dated 10^th day of June 2019 which was received by your office on same date 10^th day of June, 2019.

“Please note that since the receipt of the letter where a 3 weeks deadline was given to you to respond, you have failed to either acknowledge or respond to the demand made therein.

“Please this is a final reminder on our demand for a justified compensation for the monumental damages caused the club by the unjust expulsion.

“We are therefore given you a final deadline of 7 days to respond to our right demand or we shall be left with no option than to seek legal redress in the Court of Arbitration for Sports, CAS,” the letter read.