Abia Warriors have been handed ₦3.25 million in financial sanctions by the Euromatch-NPFL after an incident involving a member of the club’s media team and a crew member of the league’s broadcast partner during their Matchday 10 fixture against Niger Tornadoes.
The league also suspended Abia Warriors multimedia officer Chidera Favour Igwe from all NPFL activities for five matches, covering both home and away fixtures, after charging the club with security failures and attempting to disrupt the match’s live broadcast.
The sanctions follow Sunday’s 1–0 home defeat to Niger Tornadoes at Enyimba Stadium in Aba, where Wasiu Jimoh’s 56th minute strike secured the visitors’ first away win of the season. The disciplinary action, however, concerns events surrounding the broadcast and the club’s security arrangements rather than the result itself.
How the incident escalated
In its disciplinary notice, the league said Abia Warriors had failed to provide adequate security as agreed at the pre-match technical meeting.
It also accused a club official of attempting to disrupt the live broadcast by harassing a crew member working for the league’s broadcast partner. The NPFL said the conduct was capable of bringing the game into disrepute.
The notice identified Igwe, the club’s multimedia officer, as the official suspended over the incident. The league said the suspension was imposed for attempting to disrupt the broadcast and harassing the crew member.
The NPFL also stated that the affected crew member sustained an injury during the incident, prompting a separate compensation order to cover treatment.
The breakdown of the sanctions
The league imposed three financial penalties on Abia Warriors, bringing the total to ₦3.25 million.
The club was fined ₦1 million for failing to provide adequate security as agreed at the technical meeting. A further ₦2 million fine was imposed for the attempt to disrupt the live broadcast.
Abia Warriors must also pay ₦250,000 in compensation to the affected broadcast crew member for treatment of the injury sustained during the incident.
Beyond the financial penalties, Igwe’s five-match suspension means he is barred from all NPFL activities during the period, whether Abia Warriors are playing at home or away.
READ MORE: NPFL sanction Katsina United after clash with Plateau United
The ruling adds to the disappointment of a matchday in which Abia Warriors lost at home to Niger Tornadoes. Jimoh’s second half goal settled the contest, giving the visitors a significant result on the road and leaving the hosts to reflect on a performance their head coach, Imama Amapakabo, described as below the required standard.
The disciplinary case now places the club under further pressure, with the league making clear that its requirements extend beyond events on the pitch to security obligations and the conduct of club officials.
Abia Warriors have 48 hours, calculated in working days from the date of the notice, to appeal the sanctions.
