NBBF board member denies resignation reports, accuses leadership of seeking tenure extension

By Maxwell Kumoye 

 

 

 

Fresh controversy has erupted within the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), as a member of the federation’s board has dismissed reports that some board members have resigned and accused the leadership of attempting to prolong its stay in office.

The development comes less than seven weeks before the reported expiration of the current NBBF board’s tenure, amid growing concerns over the absence of a clearly announced timetable for the federation’s next elective congress.

Speaking in Abuja, the NBBF North Central Representative, Adamu Deshi, dismissed reports that members of the board had resigned, insisting that no such resignations had taken place.

Deshi claimed that the tenure of the current NBBF board had been extended by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) until October 16, 2026, and maintained that the extension applies to all members of the existing board.

He further alleged that reports of resignations were being used as part of an attempt by outgoing NBBF President, Engineer Musa Kida, to avoid accountability before the full board and the NBBF Congress.

According to Deshi, Kida recently held a meeting with five board members considered to be supportive of his administration, while allegedly excluding the other eight members who, he said, had raised concerns about the running of the federation.

Deshi also accused the NBBF leadership of breaching provisions of the federation’s constitution, alleging that Congress had not been convened for about four years and that the administration had failed to provide adequate financial accountability.

He further alleged that elected officials and board members had been suspended or removed without following the procedures stipulated by the NBBF Constitution.

Among those he said had been affected were Technical Representative Scott Nnaji and Players’ Representative Stanley Gumut.

Deshi argued that the NBBF president does not have the unilateral authority to remove elected board members, citing Article 21.11 (1)(a-e) of the federation’s Constitution, which outlines the grounds and procedures for the removal of board members.

He maintained that any resignation must be formally submitted in writing, while other grounds for removal, including conviction for a criminal offence, are subject to the provisions of the Constitution and the approval of Congress where applicable.

“Musa Kida is not the Congress of the NBBF,” Deshi said, insisting that the president could not unilaterally exclude duly elected board members from the federation’s activities.

He also rejected claims that the affected board members had failed to attend three consecutive meetings, another provision contained in the federation’s Constitution.

According to Deshi, the members in question were not formally invited to the meetings and therefore could not reasonably be accused of deliberately refusing to attend.

The dispute has now been brought before the National Sports Commission (NSC), with Deshi revealing that seven of the eight board members allegedly excluded from the latest meeting had submitted a formal complaint to the commission.

The complaint followed a meeting reportedly held on August 13, 2026, involving the NBBF president and five board members.

The NSC has yet to publicly comment on the complaint, the proposed NBBF elective congress or the separate allegations of financial mismanagement against the federation’s leadership.

With the current board’s tenure reportedly running until October 16, 2026, questions are increasingly being raised over the absence of a publicly announced electoral timetable and the steps being taken to ensure a transparent transition.

Deshi has therefore urged stakeholders to disregard reports that members of the NBBF board have resigned, reiterating that no such resignations had taken place.

The latest dispute adds to the growing leadership tensions within Nigerian basketball and has renewed calls for the NBBF to provide clarity on its electoral timetable, constitutional compliance and financial accountability ahead of the reported expiration of the current board’s tenure.