THE hammer of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), has hit a Rivers State-based sports journalist, Sammy Weijnya very hard.
Sammy Weijnya has been told to forget about coming close to any NPFL match venue and from all NPFL-related activities for the rest of the season.
The ban on Sammy Weijnya was made public on Sunday 12 January 2024, in a release by the body that administers the Premier Football League in Nigeria.
WHO IS SAMMY WEIJNYA
Sammy Weijnya, a journalist, is currently the sports aide to the Rivers State Sports Commissioner, Barrister Chris Green.
He was the media officer of Rivers United and now Special Assistant to the Rivers State Commissioner for Sports. Sammy Weijnya is fondly called Oga Sammy by his radio and TV audiences.
WHY THE BAN
Sammy Weijnya was banned by the league governing body in Nigeria for bringing the game into disrepute and harming the image of NPFL.
NPFL stated that Sammy Weijnya claimed he was beaten by some supporters of Nasarawa United, at the Lafia Stadium, in a viral article titled ” Lafia, Pain, Blood, and Escaping Death by Whiskers, a claim which was refuted by Nasarawa United FC.
“After a thorough inquest conducted into the fallout of the Nasarawa Utd v Rivers Utd game, the media aide of Rivers State Sports Commissioner, Sammy Wejinya, has been banned from all NPFL-related activities, including league venues, until the end of the season.” a part of the statement by the NPFL reads.
The statement reads further: ” Wejinya’s ban comes following a review on his article titled ‘Lafia, Pain, Blood and Escaping Death by Whiskers’ misrepresented the true state of affairs.
“The exaggerated and false statements from the article have harmed the image of NPFL and brought the game into disrepute.”
And the NPFL warned him to refrain from actions that could undermine the league.
“Wejinya has been urged to refrain from actions that undermine the credibility of the NPFL in future as the decision was taken to safeguard the image of the league.” the statement concluded.
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