EXCLUSIVE: Sacked Rangers Staffs Refuse to Vacate Offices, Hand Over Properties

Posted by African Examiner Latest Headlines, Sports News Monday, October 23rd, 2017

From Ignatius Okpara, Enugu

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – Over a month governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu state dissolved the Board and management of Rangers Inter. FC, over abysmal performance in the Nigeria professional football league NPFL, workers of the club have bluntly refused to vacate their respective offices as well as hand over all properties in their possession to the state Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr. Joseph Udedi, as directed by the governor.

AFRICAN Examiner Sports recalled that Ugwuanyi fired the board and management led by ex- Super Eagles Coach, Christian Chukwu on15th, of September 2015, and directed that all the club’s staff should hand over all properties in their possession to Udedi.

The Enugu club side, which won the domestic league in the 2015/2016 season after 32 years of trophy drought, could not defend the title in the last season, as they ended up in the13th position in the NPFL log.

Jos based team, Plateau United won the 2016/2017 edition of the league.

Ugwuanyi, had while dissolving the board and management said the decision was aimed at ensuring the total revitalization and repositioning of the Club for future challenges.

In his speech during the meeting with leaders of the club,he said: “the board of Rangers Management Corporation are hereby dissolved.

“The appointments of all contract staff of the corporation are hereby terminated. All staff earlier seconded to Rangers Management Corporation, are hereby returned to their parent establishments.The appointment of the Club Physician is hereby terminated with immediate effect and all Corporation/Club property in his custody should be returned forthwith.

To match his words with action, few days later, the governor set up a panel of inquiry charged with carrying out a diagnostic investigation of the problems of Rangers FC and also articulate a Road Map for the club. The panel is headed by professor Gab Agu, a renowned Enugu based lawyer.

However, investigation by African Examiner Sports revealed that virtually all the affected staff of the club, have refused to vacate their offices at the Rangers administrative office located at the Government Reservation Area, GRA Enugu.

A Source close to the state ministry of youth sports who craved anonymity while speaking to our correspondent on the development, said “it is unbelievable that for over one month now that governor Ugwuanyi gave order that all the sacked staff of Rangers should hand over all properties in their possession to the Commissioner of sports, and vacate their offices, they are yet to comply with that directive.

Checks by African Examiner Sports revealed that apart from the former General manager, Chukwu, and sacked Acting Chief coach, Chukwuma Agbo, all other staff of the club such as its marketing manager, physiotherapist, Nurse, camp Commandant, team Doctor, among others, are yet to vacate their office or comply with the governor’s order.

Our Correspondent gathered that the panel has since submitted its report to the governor, after its one month assignment.