Protesting Enyimba staff urge Otti to overturn ‘illegal sack’

Governor Alex Otti

Some staff of Enyimba of Aba, yesterday, took to the streets of Umuahia, Abia State capital, to protest the ‘illegal termination of their service’ by the club’s new management, led by Super Eagles former Captain, Nwankwo Kanu.

The workers, who held several placards and sang protest songs, pleaded with Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, to intervene in the matter. In their letter dated August 9, 2023, and titled: “Protest letter to Governor Alex Otti on illegal disengagement of Enyimba Staff,” which was distributed to journalists, they alleged that they were “sacked by Ifeanyi Ekwueme, the Sporting Director of Enyimba International Football Club.”

The letter, jointly signed by the club’s Chief Security Officer, Ogbonnaya Agwu and Maduka Anyaso, said: “We are surprised to hear that he (Ekwueme) is going contrary to the directive of Governor Otti, who last month dismissed reports that some staff of the club have been sacked.”

They recalled that a letter “purportedly” written by the sporting director and dated July 17, 2023, had directed them to reapply for jobs.

“This letter was disowned and dismissed by Abia State governor, who also said that no staff was sacked and that there was no plan to sack Enyimba Staff.” They wondered why the sporting director, Ekwueme, chose to disobey the governor’s directive by sacking eight of their colleagues, including the chief security officer.

They claimed that the sacked officials did not commit any offence and were not indicted or queried for any offence before their dismissal after many years of dedicated service to the club.

The workers also alleged that they were being owed four months salaries and pleaded with Otti to intervene and direct their recall to save them