Over 2,000 members of the IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja, have signed a petition calling for the reopening of the club.
The club has been embroiled in a leadership crisis, prompting intervention from the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
The petition was signed on Tuesday at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, following a stakeholders’ meeting held on Friday at the Golf and Health Signature, Abuja.
The petitioners distanced themselves from a lawsuit filed by three club members against Minister Wike.
On 5 April, Wike appointed Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, President of the Court of Appeal, as Chair of the club’s Board of Trustees (BoT), replacing Gen. IBM Haruna.
Other new BoT members appointed include Olusegun Runsewe, Grace Ihonvbere, S.I. Ameh (SAN), Hamid Abbo, Victor Adedipe, Patrick Chidolue, and Ben Ikokwu.
Former BoT members IBM Haruna, Alfred Diete-Spiff, Tim Menakaya, and Babagana Kingibe were made patrons of the club, while Philip Asiodu was dropped.
Wike emphasised that the intervention reflected the FCT Administration’s commitment to restoring order and efficiency at the prestigious club.
The leadership dispute had raised concerns over governance and reform, with some members supporting the minister’s involvement.
However, three members, Ubong Akpan, Tijani Ogueyi, and Olalere Babasola challenged the appointments in court, obtaining an interim order restraining Wike from inaugurating the new BoT.
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On 24 April, the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled in their favour, barring the new trustees from overseeing the club’s Annual General Meeting scheduled for 26 April.
In response, Wike appointed a ten-member Interim Management Committee (IMC), chaired by Peter Deshi, to manage the club’s affairs.
To prevent further disturbances, the Federal Government deployed Nigeria Police and Department of State Services (DSS) personnel to secure the premises.
Access remains tightly controlled, limited to essential staff such as security officers and groundskeepers, with IMC members also subjected to identification checks.
Insiders reveal the closure is also being used as an opportunity for extensive renovations aimed at upgrading the club to international standards.
