Olubor Uyi Esq.

ADVOCATE GENERAL (AG) OF THE EUROPEAN COURT OF JUSTICE GIVES HIS OPINION ON THE PROPOSED EUROPEAN SUPER LEAGUE~ UYI OLUBOR ESQ. Aspirations by the remaining teams (i.e. Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus) still championing the advocacy for the formation of a European Super League suffered a significant blow today as the Advocate General of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) gave an opinion favouring FIFA and UEFA against the establishment of a European Super League Company. Note: that the ECJ is not bound by the Opinion of the AG. However, his opinions can be very persuasive as they aid as a stepping stone in their deliberation in reaching a final decision. If you can remember, this case was instituted by the ESLC against FIFA and UEFA before the Juzgado de lo mercantil de Madrid (Commercial Court of Madrid) after the former accused the latter of anticompetitive behaviour which it claimed they committed by threatening clubs who wished to join the competition. The court in Madrid, hav...

RESOLVING THE PERENNIAL DISPUTE WITHIN THE NIGERIA FOOTBALL FEDERATION ~ by Olubor Uyi ESQ. In the early hours of the day, news broke out that the Federal High Court holden at Abuja gave an order restraining the Nigerian Football Federation(NFF) from conducting elections into its executive council. In this article, I would try as much as possible not to comment on the meritocracy of the claimants demand neither am I going to question the validity of the ruling of the Federal High Court restraining the football federation. As it is trite law that during the pendency of an action, parties are to maintain status quo ante in order not to destroy the res. Thus, the Federal High Court was within its right when it made that ruling. However, my frustration stems from the fact that why is it that during every NFF election cycle we always have these litigations which then dovetails into the regime of every NFF EXCO. The result is always a constant 'bras de fer' between the NFF and the Fe...

THE LEGAL STATUS OF INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE VOLUNTEERED TO COMBAT IN THE UKRAINIAN WAR - CAN THEY ENJOY THE PRIVILEGES OF PRISONERS OF WAR (POW)? ~ by Olubor Uyi Esq. Since the commencement of the Russian invasion in Ukraine. We have witnessed a situation where parties to the conflict have called upon volunteers across the world to enlist in their respective armed forces to participate in the ongoing war. This demand has resulted in a situation where a lot of persons across the world are volunteering to participate in the war. Just last week, it was reported that about 150 able-bodied Nigerian youths approached the Ukrainian embassy with the aim of joining the Ukrainian army in the fight against the Russians. However, this demand from the parties has awoken another age long debate whether: 1. Volunteers of this nature, can they be designated as mercenaries? 2. If we accept that, they are mercenaries. Would they be entitled to the rights and privileges as set out under the Gen...

Tunisia V MALI : ENSHRING PROFESSIONALISM IN AFRICAN FOOTBALL~ Olubor Uyi Esq. The African Cup of Nations began on the 9th of January 2015. Hitherto to the commencement of the soccer fiesta, the football world waited with bated breath in anticipation of what one of the biggest tournaments in the World produces. However, less than a week into the sporting carnival. Supporters of the beautiful game in Africa got the eggs on the face treatment during the highly anticipated clash between the National teams of Tunisia and Mali. The game was marred by many questionable decisions by the Referee. The straw that finally broke the Camel's back was when the Referee signalled the end of regulation time at the 86th minute. Although, they were claims that his time piece malfunctioned. Nevertheless, he made amendments by recalling the teams back to the pitch to continue the game. However, not less than three minutes later (that is, in the 89th minute), the man at the centre of the pitch again sig...

REFUSAL TO RELEASE ODION IGHALO- ONE DISRESPECT TOO MANY? ~ Olubor Uyi ESQ. Over the years, a major bone of contention has been the appropriate period to hold the African Cup of Nations (AFCON). Most football Eggheads have demanded that the AFCON be moved from the summer to the winter. Alas!!! The last AFCON held in Egypt, took place during the summer. However, this has proved unsustainable. Owing to the unfavorable weather condition in most African countries during the European summer calendar. Hence, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) reverted to holding the AFCON during the european winter calendar after it awarded the hosting rights to Cameroun. However, this decision taken by CAF has not gone down well with most marquee clubs across the globe. As it would mean, they would have to do without some of their key players who are of African decent during the duration of the tourney. The Super Eagles of Nigeria have been a major victim of this discontent. As it has seen in the p...

RESTRICTION BY THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ON THE USE OF ACQUIRED WEAPONS OUTSIDE THE NORTH-EAST.  NEO-COLONIALISM ? For the past couple of months, there has been growing pressure on the Federal Government of Nigeria to label the bandits operating in the North-Western part of the country as terrorist organizations. This pressure ascended as facts emerged that there are clauses embedded in the weapon sales agreement between the United States of America and the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Preventing the Federal Republic of Nigeria from using the weapons outside the North East. It is the belief shared by some groups that the labeling of bandits as terrorists would raise international awareness of the activities of these groups in the North West, which would make it possible to unleash weapons placed under restrictions by the United States on the terrorists. Ordinarily, it would be easy to dismiss the restriction clause on the grounds that it does not bind Nigeria, having failed to m...

L'AFRIQUE ET L'EXIGENCE DE LA RESPECT DE LA DÉMOCRATIE ~ (Olubor Uyi maitre.) ll y a trois jours la Communauté Economique des États de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (CEDAO) a suspendu la  république de guinée de son organisation apres le président démocratique a été renversé.  Cet décision attire beaucoup de conversation autour de la légalité de suspendre un membre de CEDAO. Avant, quand la CEDAO prenait des decisions comme ça, les gens le critiquaient de se  mettre à l'affaire des pays souverain.  Toutefois, selon les loi internationaux quand un pays a signé un traité, il est obligé de le respecter. Les pays CEDAO en 2001 se sont accordé sur la Protocole sur la Democratie et la Bonne Gouvernance. Article 1b de cette loi prévu que toute accession au pouvoir doit se faire à travers des élections libres et transparentes. Article 1c interdit tout changement anti-constitutionnel. Et finalement article 1e prévu que l'armée est apolitique et se soumise à l' autorité politi...