Olusola Jide Jide
The leadership crisis plaguing the IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja, shows no sign of abating, as the planned 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM) and elections have been postponed indefinitely.
In a notice issued on Saturday morning, Club Captain Ibrahim Babayo informed members of the club’s closure, stating: “Kindly be informed that in view of the closure of the club, the 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Elections slated for 26th April 2025 are hereby postponed till further notice. Thank you.”
The IBB Club, regarded as one of Nigeria’s most prestigious golf facilities, has been mired in litigations concerning the appointment of a new Board of Trustees (BoT) and the adoption of a revised constitution.
Recently, three club members—Ubong Esop Akpan, Tijani Abdulsalam Ogueyi, and Olalere Babasola—secured an interim order from the Federal High Court, Abuja, restraining the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike, from inaugurating a BoT chaired by the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, to oversee the AGM.
Sources have confirmed that Justice Dongban-Mensem has resolved to step down as Chairman of the Incorporated Trustees of the IBB Club, following the ongoing crisis and ensuing litigation.
In response to the turmoil, Minister Wike has appointed a ten-member Interim Management Committee to oversee the club’s operations as the tenure of the current club leadership is set to expire. The appointment was announced in a statement signed by Mr. Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant to the Minister on Public Communications and social media.
The committee, chaired by Dr. Peter Deshi with Mr. Yomi Oyelola as Secretary, also includes Otunba Gbenga Elegbeleye, Arc. Nanwor Mamven, Mrs. Ekanem Ekwueme, Arc. Arabi Bello, Lawan Aboki, Okey Nnaedozie, Fred Otobo, and Julius Fadairo.
According to the statement, the committee’s mandate includes auditing the club’s finances, enforcing compliance with operational standards, and repositioning the facility in line with international best practices.
Minister Wike reaffirmed that the IBB Golf Club remains the property of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and emphasized the government’s commitment to restoring proper governance and standards to the club.
Similarly, several key members of the club have distanced themselves from the actions of those who took the club to court. The concerned, financially up-to-date members have collectively and unequivocally disassociated themselves from the recent actions of Mr. Ubong Akpan, Mr. Tijani Ogueyi, and Mr. Olalere Babasola.
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They reaffirm their commitment to lawful, respectful, and appropriate channels of engagement with public authorities, while also expressing continued respect for the office of the FCT Minister and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).
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