Abuja, March 28, 2025 (NAN) lbrahim Babayo, Captain, IBB International Golf and Country Club (IBBIGCC), Abuja, says it has become imperative to address certain inaccuracies and provide clarity on the ongoing leadership crisis at the club.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some security operatives had on March 15 sealed the club, following an internal leadership dispute that rocked the prestigious facility.
The closure was reportedly aimed to disrupt an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM), which was scheduled on the same day.
Babayo had earlier told newsmen that the bone of contention was a result of the vacancies in the Board of Trustees (BOT), which needed to be filled.
He explained that the situation had led to stagnation of the development of the club for a very long time as the outgone BOT were unable to form a quorum to make major decisions for the club.
A statement signed by Babayo,on Friday said it had become imperative to address certain inaccuracies and provide clarity on the situation.
He steessed that it was particularly important to clear the air, following recent reports on the Daily Trust of Wednesday, March 26, 2025 and legal proceedings concerning the leadership transition at the club.
He explained that contrary to claims made by Retired General IBM Haruna, Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT), the ongoing efforts to ensure proper governance at the clutb have strictly followed due process and remain in alignment with the club’s constitutional provisions.
“The move to convene an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) was not an attempt to circumvent procedures but rather an exercise of the membership’s rights to participate in the leadership selection process.
“The assertion that the constitution was amended “‘secretly” without the trustees’ consent is misleading.
“The revisions made were aimed at ensuring transparency and democratic participation, with the goal of reinforcing accountablity within the club’s leadership structure.
“All changes followed the appropriate channels, and any suggestion to the contrary is an attempt to misinform the public and club members,” he said.
The IBBIGCC Captain recalled that there were publications for the amendment in the two daily newspapers – Leadership Newspaper of Friday June 21,2024 at page 14 & 15; The Guardian Newspaper of Monday June 24, 2024 at page 39 to page 40 containing all the details of the amendment.
He noted that there was also a public notice placed at the Notice Board of the Club.
“The publication in the dailies and the public notice invited the general public to forward any objections to the application for the filing of the amendment to CAC within 28 days of the publication in line with the provisions of the CAMA 2020.
“The said publication in the two dailies was also pasted on the telegram of the club, a platform that all members of the club belong to.
“It is noteworthy that no objections were received by the CAC. Instead, the Chaiman of the Board of Trustees, aware of the impending registration of the amended constitution, engaged the law firm of Olowolafe & Co to write to the CAC.
“In a letter dated May 2, 2024, the law firm submitted a petition, not an objection to the proposed amendment, but rather a complaint against an unauthorized amendment.
“The Corporate Affairs Commission forwarded the said petition through the law firm of JK Gadzama LLP engaged to file the amended constitution and we replied vide letter of Nov. 5, 2024 clarifying the state of affairs in the amendment process,” he said.
He explained that the CAC after their review, approved the registration of the amended constitution.He said that the legal action taken to halt the EGEG was a deliberate move to stall the transition process and maintain the status quo, despite the will of the general membership.
“The decision of the Federal High Court ordering all parties to maintain the status quo does not affirm the chairman’s claims but simply serves as an interim measure pending a fullhearing, next week April 3, 2025.
“The IB8 Golf & Country Club remains committed to upholding fairness, integrity, and the democratic principles upon which it was founded.
“We urge all members to remain steadfast in supporting lawful and transparent governance that prioritises the collective of the club rather than the entrenchment of select individuals,” Babayo said.(NAN)
