***Iorfa begs Lobi players to join Barau
Nigerian Concord Newspaper
It’s a time of Karma for the immediate past Vice Chairman of Lobi Stars Football Club, Makurdi, Mr. Dominic Iorfa as he is currently facing sack in his new club, Barau Football Club, Kano where he was few weeks ago unveiled as a General Manager of the newly promoted Nigerian Premier Football League side.
Iorfa was sacked as the Vice Chairman of Lobi Stars Football Club last year by Governor Hyacinth Alia over allegations of multiple corruption and high-handedness.
Recently, a Commission of Inquiry set up by the State Government inducted Iorfa, claiming that he embezzlement a whooping N1.5B Lobi Stars funds. The dismissed football administrator has since debunked the allegation, saying that rather, it’s the government that is owing him N400M.
However, Dominic Iorfa was appointed as the GM of Barau Football Club Kano, a club which is owned by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Jibril Barau.
Weeks after his unveiling by the Club, an anti corruption group called Global Anti Corruption Watch petitioned Barau Football Club through Deputy Senate President Jibril Barau, asking him to review the appointment as Mr. Iorfa is facing charges in Benue state over a theft of N1.5B belonging to Lobi Stars where he worked for years as a Vice Chairman and CEO.
The petition dated September 19, 2023 with Reference Number GAW/092025/2765 was signed by the Secretary of the anti graft group, Barrister Nathaniel Iorapu.
Meanwhile, the Media Director of Barau Football Club, Mr. Ahmad Hamisu Gwale, told journalists that the petition is weighty and the club is considering a review of Mr. Iorfa’s appointment. “I cannot tell if he will retain the seat. Only the chairman of the Club will decide that” he noted.
In a related development, Mr. Iorfa has been calling on players from Lobi Stars to resign and join the Barau Football Club where he currently works as a General Manager.
Iorfa’s plan, according to reports is to weaken the structure of Lobi Stars by taking away footballers to Barau Football Club.
Recall that Iorfa, as a way to cover his multiple corrupt acts recently accused the Benue state government of witch hunting him and owing him N400 million which he borrowed to sustain the Club during his time as the technical head.
Joining Iorfa to blackmail the state governor, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia and the current Vice Chairman of the club, Mr. Philip Nongu was a coach In the club, Mr. Austin Tyowua who has been using about three pseudo Facebook accounts to blackmail the governor and Nongu. One of the fake pseudo account that is being operated by Tyowua to blackmail the governor bears “Hillary Agber”
Recall that there were confirmed allegations of massive frauds, illegal diversion of club vehicles as well as match fixing against Iorfa while he was leading the team.
Apart from his high-handedness, Iorfa was also accused of owing players and staffs. He was also fixing their funds in his private bank accounts on several occasions in order to get bank interests.
All these allegations led to his unceremonious sack by Governor Hyacinth Alia two years ago after they were found to be true.
But, independent investigation by this newspaper showed that Iorfa was being economical with truths with his statements during the recent interview.
This newspaper gathered that the sacked Lobi Stars Vice Chairman has also made plans to attack his successor, Mr. Philip Nongu with the support of some paid media influencers.
Iorfa, it was gathered has directed his media handlers to falsely accuse Nongu for corruption, match fixing and inflation of expenses.
The former VIce chairman of the Club has also commissioned his media influencers to falsely paint a picture to the public that Governor Alia was responsible for the club’s recent relegation.
Our investigation through the financial records of Lobi Stars which were made available to this newspaper showed that Mr. Philip Nongu has never inflated club expenses as accused by Iorfa’s media handlers.
“Why is Iorfa using social media influencers to falsely accused his successor of fraud, inflation and match fixing just because he is on a mission to tarnish his image. He is just looking for a way to make the governor hate him unjustly.
“His statement during the interview where he mocked the club for entering relegation is enough that he has a sinister motive against the governor, Nongu and the club.
“Mr. Dominic is just trying to destroy Philip just like his own image had been destroyed and he is now accusing the government falsely for witch hunting him” a source within the club told this newspaper during our investigation.
Meanwhile, some players of Lobi Stars who chatted with our reporters during the investigation stated that the allegations against Nongu are very untrue. They added that it’s with his (Nongu) efforts that unity and love returned back to the club after Iorfa had used his divide and rule trick to scatter the whole place.
According to them, all the players and club workers are happy with the current Vice Chairman for his unflinching loyalty, impartiality, and total dedication to the club’s vision with a promise to continue to work with him to achieve a common goal.
More details later