Anambra football crisis deepens as FA removes Umeh

The Anambra Football Association (AFA) on Monday in Awka announced the removal of Mike Umeh as its board chairman.

Umeh’s removal was announced in the communiqué issued after the association’s board meeting held Monday in Awka, signed by the drafting committee chairman, Albert Chinwe.

``Chief Mike Umeh in spite of his numerous violations of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) statutes, with regards to the Anambra FA, walked out of the board meeting he convened and presided over.

``Sequel to this and in line with the NFA Statutes 2010, the board suspended and removed Umeh as chairman of the association,” the communique stated.

It also announced the appointment of Jude Obikwelu, the AFA Vice-Chairman, as the association’s Acting Chairman with immediate effect.

The board also adopted the composition of the State FA Electoral and Appeal Panels earlier set up to conduct a state congress.

It also constituted a five-man Local Government Football Committee Panel.

In a reaction, Umeh told the News agency of Nigeria (NAN) he was not aware of his impeachment, describing the action as an illegality.

 

He said he did not walk out of the AFA board meeting but only called off the meeting when the other members refused to take their proper seats.

``I am not aware of any impeachment. The meeting was over before I left. The Vice-Chairman refused to take his proper seat and we could not continue. So, I moved that the meeting be suspended after which I left.

``There is always a process leading to removal of officers, and I was not served any letter nor queried. So, that action cannot stand because it did not take place within our board meeting,” Umeh said.

Other members of the communiqué drafting committee were Cyprian Amuzie as secretary and Ralph Emeka as member.

 

NAN.