Court Adjourns NBBF Election Legality Suit to November 3

Posted : 15 October 2026

A Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the hearing of a suit challenging the legality of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) elective congress until November 3, 2026. The decision allows the federation’s scheduled election to proceed while the court prepares to consider the substantive legal arguments.

The case was filed by former D’Tigers coach Ayodele Olaseinde Bakare against the NBBF and the National Sports Commission (NSC). Bakare is challenging the electoral process, alleging that irregularities surrounding an extraordinary congress held in Yola, Adamawa State, violated the federation’s constitution.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2428, follows Bakare’s disqualification from contesting the NBBF presidency. He was reportedly excluded because he submitted his nomination papers after the deadline.

Bakare argued that the notice convening the Yola congress did not comply with the NBBF Constitution. He alleged that neither two-thirds of the congress members nor the federation’s board provided the required notice for the meeting.

He also claimed that only 44 of the 50 congress members received notice of the meeting. According to his suit, this allegedly breached the federation’s constitutional provisions and denied the affected members a fair hearing.

The plaintiff sought an interim court order restraining the NBBF from conducting its elective congress as scheduled. However, the court declined to grant the request.

In reaching its decision, the court considered the proximity of the election and the financial and logistical commitments already made by the federation and other stakeholders. These included travel arrangements for delegates, venue bookings, and other preparations.

The court also considered the need to allow the defendants sufficient opportunity to respond to the allegations before making an order that could disrupt the electoral process.

However, the refusal to grant the interim injunction does not constitute a final ruling on the legality of the congress. The substantive case remains pending, and the court is expected to hear the parties’ arguments on November 3.

The court also granted an application to shorten the period allowed for the defendants to respond to the suit. The response period was reduced from one month to two weeks, and the court directed that the originating processes be formally served on both the NBBF and the NSC.

Reacting to the decision, Bakare said his intention was not to stop the election but to ensure that the process complied with the federation’s rules.

“We wanted an accelerated hearing, and we got November 3, which is excellent. So on that date all parties will be in court, and then we argue the matter. It is only two weeks from now,” he said.

Bakare added that he remained confident in his legal position and insisted that the case was not intended to disrupt the congress.

The November 3 hearing is expected to address the legal questions surrounding the disputed electoral process, while the court’s eventual decision could have implications for the governance of Nigerian basketball.

Court Adjourns NBBF Election Legality Suit to November 3

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