On Sunday, April 27, 2025, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, directed the newly appointed Interim Management Committee of the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) Golf Club in Abuja to commence operations immediately, as reported by Daily Post, Leadership, and The Nation. The committee, operating under the supervision of the Board of Trustees chaired by Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, President of the Court of Appeal, aims to restore order and efficiency to the prestigious club amid recent internal challenges.
The committee, announced via a statement by Wike’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, is led by Dr. Peter Deshi as chairman, with Barrister Yomi Oyelola as secretary. Other members include Otunba Gbenga Elegbeleye, Arc. Nanwor Mamven, Mrs. Ekanem Ekwueme, Arc. Arabi Bello, Lawan Aboki, Okey Nnaedozie, Fred Otobo, and Julius Fadairo. Wike approved the committee’s formation on April 26, 2025, following the April 4 inauguration of the Board of Trustees, which was tasked with conducting credible elections, amending the club’s constitution, and ensuring proper registration, per Voice of Nigeria and Independent Newspaper.
Wike emphasized the FCT Administration’s ownership of the club, clarifying, “It is not privatized,” and urged the committee to reposition the club to its former international stature, as noted in New Telegraph and National Accord. The club, named after former military President Ibrahim Babangida, has faced operational crises, prompting Wike’s intervention to prevent deterioration. He expressed confidence in the committee’s ability to enhance facilities and governance, pledging ongoing FCT support.
The appointments follow a legal hiccup, as a Federal High Court order on April 25, 2025, initially restrained Wike and Dongban-Mensem from nominating the Board of Trustees, pending a suit by club members Ubong Esop Akpan, Tijani Abdulsalam Ogueyi, and Olalere Babasola. However, the committee’s formation proceeded, suggesting resolution or defiance of the injunction, though no updates on the case were reported by ThisDayLive. X posts, including @OlayinkaLere and @LeadershipNGA, highlighted the appointments, reflecting public interest in Wike’s reforms.
Critics, such as @ChidiOdinkalu on X, labeled Wike’s involvement as “judicial misconduct,” citing Dongban-Mensem’s role amid pending litigation and alleging influence peddling, though these claims remain unverified. The committee’s immediate start aligns with Wike’s broader FCT agenda, including infrastructure development and tackling land grabbing, as seen in his August 2023 commitment to restore Abuja’s master plan, per Guardian and Blueprint. The IBB Golf Club’s revival is part of efforts to enhance Abuja’s global competitiveness, with the committee tasked to uphold transparency and elevate the club’s economic potential, including its eco-conscious wildlife protection, as noted by Dongban-Mensem.
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