In one of our series on managerial and financial recklessness of Lobi Stars Football Club by Dominic Iorfa, titled “How Governor Ortom was tricked into appointing Dominic Iorfa as Vice Chairman of Lobi Stars”, we had mentioned a cabal that was behind Iorfa as they destabilzed the past management to get them off the saddle, here is another plot by the same cabal that schemed their way in the first instance for a reward under the auspices of Benue Football Stakeholders to further their interest for percuniary gains.
After Lobi Stars struggled through the season, a dwindled performance that was masterminded by the same people with the support of deputy Governor Engr Benson Abounu ousted the Tama Aondofa led management.
We have it from impeccable sources that the press conference called on July 20th by Dominic Iorfa is the first step to actualize the ill conceived plot, after the stage managed conference which only pre-planned journalists will be permitted to ask leading questions that will not implicate him in all his financial mess during the last four months of his leadership.
We would like to bring to the attention of Governor Ortom that, the game of football is beyond field results, if it is tied to field result, Mike Idoko that took Lobi Stars to CAF Champions League and went up to the group stage wouldn’t have been sacked.
Even the much celebrated escape out of relegation of Lobi Stars in the just concluded NPFL was not a function of Lobi Stars performance, Lobi Stars were embarrassed in Abia 3-0 but was lucky that Wikki Tourists and Kano Pillars won in their respective centres. As such, the escape from relegation shouldn’t be a credit or bargaining chip for Iorfa.
The so called stakeholders, if they are real stakeholders would have come out to address the lingering issue of non payment of salaries and allowances by Iorfa over the past four months but have to shamelessly hatch another plan to go and plead with the Governor to give Iorfa a second chance.
Also on sound authority, we were able to track the March 2022 salary to the pockets of the so called stakeholders listed as follows:
1. Engr Benson Abuonu (Deputy Governor and Club Chairman).
2. Mr Philip Nongo (Director of Sports)
3. Chief Godwin Uwua (PSA TO Gov on Sports)
4. Tom Aondona (SSA To Gov on Sports)
5. Mr Emmanuel Ujah – (Media Officer Lobi Stars)
And others we may not want to mention here now.
We challenge the above listed or Iorfa to prove otherwise as we are ready to bring out attached values to their names and proof of acknowledgement of the various sums as collected with the proof with the out gone accountant Geoffrey Ugbache.
The so called stakeholders have agreed to come together to save Iorfa since they are part of the reasons for Iorfa’s financial misappropriation and probably continue to enjoy the sharing spree at the expense of the players and staff of the club.
It was further revealed that in desperation and determination of the cabal to save Iorfa, they have tried to reach out to Governor’s trusted people who will serve as bridge to get an already disappointed Governor Ortom and plead for another chance for Iorfa. Whether or not Governor Ortom will listen to them is a story for another day.
Governor Ortom should know that keeping Dominic Iorfa in Lobi Stars any further has dire consequences that he can not fathom at the moment. All the unpaid workers of Lobi Stars will count as additional burden to the Government if he is not sacked and made to refund all the misappropriated monies.
We have on record the reckless cash withdrawals and false spending descriptions in his first one month in office. We are ready to publish details if he is bold enough to deny the allegations.
Jacob Assose the present accountant of the club should be called by his excellency to explain his role in all transactions made by Iorfa within the past four months. Geoffrey Ugbache the out gone accountant should present to the Governor acknowledgement list of those who benefited from his cash reward.
Some board members have written memos of complaints to the board chairman who is the deputy gov Engr Benson Abounu without any positive outcome. He is comfortable with his monthly cash out so nothing else matters.
How can you explain that the club’s chairman has never attended a single game throw out the last season but doesn’t miss out on his returns. Sources say, that he is still angry with Gov Ortom for not supporting his governorship ambitions and his bent on frustrating the efforts being made to reposition the club by Ortom.
