Ex-president of the Nigeria Football Federation, Sani Lulu, and former first vice-president Amanze Uchegbulam, have filed a N1.5 billion suit against the federal ministry of youth and sports development over alleged unlawful prosecution.

In a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/175/2023 filed by their lawyer, Mike Enahoro-Ebah, before Justice James Omotosho of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, the plaintiffs sued the ministry and then-sports minister Ibrahim Bio, as first and second defendants.

Also joined in the suit are Patrick Ekeji, former director-general of the National Sports Commission and NFF as third to fourth defendants, respectively.

The duo sought nine claims in a writ dated and filed on February 8.

Messrs Lulu and Uchegbulam prayed the court to declare that their arrest, detention and prosecution in charge number FHC/ABJ/CR/147/10 between the federal government vs Sani Lulu Abdullahi and three others, filed on September 30, 2010, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission at the instigation and coercive use of powers of the state by the first to third defendants without reasonable or probable cause amounted to malicious prosecution and it was unlawful and unconstitutional.

Messrs Lulu and Uchegbulam were, on February 6, 2018, in a no-case submission filed, discharged and acquitted by the court.

Also, in appeal number CA/A/161C/2016 between Sani Lulu Abdullahi vs Federal Government; and appeal number: CA/A/162C/2016 between Amanze Uchegbulam vs Federal Government, they were exonerated by the Court of Appeal, Abuja, on June 8, 2018.

The plaintiffs also sought a court declaration that by virtue of section 314 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, and section 35 (6) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), they “are entitled to compensation from the defendants for false, spiteful allegations, arrest, detention and for malicious prosecution.”

They sought a declaration that they were unjustly impeached from office at the instigation of the NFF executive committee and congress on July 3, 2010, and ratified by the congress on July 9, 2010, on false criminal allegations.

They, therefore, sought an order awarding compensatory damages against the ministry, ex-minister and Mr Ekeji amounting to N500 billion and another N500 billion against all the defendants for emotional pains, psychological trauma and stress undergone in the course of the malicious arrest, detention and prosecution.

They equally sought an order setting aside all the steps taken by the NFF executive committee and congress, leading to the purported impeachment as president and first vice-president of NFF. In addition, they requested an order restating them back to the office to complete their legitimate four-year tenure.

Messrs Lulu and Uchegbulam sought an order awarding N500 billion punitive and exemplary damages against the NFF for the unlawful actions and decisions of its executive committee and congress.

They specifically sought an order directing the defendants to publish public apologies in three national newspapers and an award of N5 million as the cost of filing the suit.

Mr Bio, before the merger of the sports ministry and NSC merger by President Muhammadu Buhari on the restructuring of ministries, departments and agencies of government on November 11, 2016, was also the chairman of NSC.

While Mr Lulu was elected NFF president on August 28, 2006, and Mr Uchegbulam became the first vice-president on the same day.

Mr Omotosho fixed April 4 for a hearing of the matter.

 (NAN)