IBB Golf Club: Odinkalu Picks Holes In CoA President’s Appointment Citing Gadzama’s Letter To Wike
Erudite human rights lawyer, Professor Chidi Odinkalu has strongly criticized the participation of the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike and the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem at the inauguration of the IBB Golf and Country Club Board of Trustees in Abuja on Friday, April 4, 2025.
Odinkalu in a post on his verified X handle @ChidiOdinkalu, expressed concerns equally raised by Mr Joe-Kyari Gadzama, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), in a letter to Wike, in which he highlighted the potential judicial impropriety amid ongoing legal disputes involving the club.
In the words of Odinkalu; “The @NigBarAssoc under @afamosigwe has a duty to address the brazen accessorization of judicial officers by @GovWike, and @njcNig is failing manifestly in its duty to address the impunity of judges who violate clear provisions of the Judicial Code of Conduct of 2016.”
Odinkalu spoke in reaction to Gadzama’s assertion on X: “The presence of FCT Minister @GovWike and @CourtOfAppealNG President Monica Dongban-Mensem at that event in IBB Golf Club in Abuja yesterday was judicial malpractice and influence peddling.
“Wike knew he was not supposed to be there. There are cases in court. They chose to defy.”
He noted that the event saw Wike inaugurate the club’s new board, with Justice Dongban-Mensem named a member.
The development, according to Odinkalu, seriously compromised judicial neutrality against the backdrop of pending litigation.
Wike had praised the club as a symbol of “excellence, discipline, and unity,” and urged the board to elevate its legacy.
However, Odinkalu noted that the presence of a senior judicial figure alongside the FCT minister is a clear case of “snuggling up to judges”.
Gadzama, a former club captain and Life Bencher, detailed the context in a letter to Wike dated April 2, 2025 in which he clearly outlined a leadership crisis at the club, noting two ongoing court cases: Dr. Chukwuma Katchi v. Incorporated Trustees of the IBB International Golf and Country Club & 2 Ors (FCT/HC/CV/242/2025) and Incorporated Trustees of IBB International Golf and Country Club v. Corporate Affairs Commission & 3 Ors (FHC/ABJ/CS/483/2025).
The letter, challenging the registration of the club’s amended constitution, was adjourned to April 4, 2025—the very day of the inauguration. Gadzama, a party in the Federal High Court case, urged Wike to intervene for an amicable resolution or let the courts decide, warning against actions that could prejudice the sub judice matters.
Gadzama explained that his firm, J-K Gadzama LLP, had facilitated the constitution’s amendment in 2024, a process approved by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) on December 17, 2024, despite a petition from Retired General IBM Haruna.
He said; “The new constitution, setting a 75-year age limit for trustees, effectively dissolved the previous board, making the timing of the new board’s inauguration contentious”.
Odinkalu’s critique therefore amplified Gadzama’s concerns, and pointedly accused the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and National Judicial Council (NJC) of inaction.
Odinkalu specifically stressed that Justice Dongban-Mensem’s participation violates the 2016 Judicial Code of Conduct, which prohibits judges from engaging in activities that could suggest bias or influence.
He said; “With cases pending, the optics of her alongside Wike, a political heavyweight, fuel perceptions of “influence peddling”.
Letter from Joe-Kyari Gadzama, SAN, to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike Regarding Leadership Crisis at IBB Golf and Country Club Abuja, April 2, 2025.
In a letter addressed to Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Joe-Kyari Gadzama, SAN, brought attention of the former governor of Rivers State to a leadership crisis currently affecting the IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja.
The letter highlighted ongoing legal disputes surrounding the club’s governance, for which Gadzama called for a resolution outside the courtroom.
Gadzama, a former club captain and legal representative of the club, expressed appreciation for the work the FCT Minister, Wike has done for the FCT, but went ahead to outlined the club’s current issues in the letter, including disputes over the amended constitution and the club’s board of trustees, with two active court cases pending.
The primary concerns raised include the legality of the constitution amendment, and a petition filed by retired General IBM Haruna challenging the changes, which the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) had approved.
Gadzama’s law firm, J-K Gadzama LLP, which was tasked with the registration of the club’s amended constitution that included a provision limiting trustees to a 75-year age cap, that was published in national newspapers and subsequently approved by the CAC in December 2024.
Gadzama further revealed that a petition against the registration had been lodged, resulting in delays and legal action.
The letter further shed light on the leadership challenges faced by the club, particularly its failure to constitute a board of trustees as per the amended constitution.
Accordingly, Gadzama called for a collaborative effort to resolve the crisis amicably, and urged Wike’s intervention as the father of the FCT, but more importantly, advocated for a peaceful resolution outside of further litigation, stressing that importance of adhering to the club’s constitution to ensure long-term stability.
Similarly, Gadzama noted that in spite of the ongoing disputes, the club’s ownership title and ground rent payments have been properly maintained since 2011, when the club was handed over to its members by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Gadzama in the letter concluded with a call for the judiciary to resolve the matter if an amicable solution cannot be reached, stressing the importance of the rule of law and constitutional adherence in resolving the crisis.
Key Points from the Letter:
Leadership Crisis: Ongoing disputes over the amended constitution and board of trustees at the IBB International Golf and Country Club.
Legal Action: Two court cases challenging the club’s governance and the constitution’s registration.
Request for Intervention: Gadzama called on Wike’s intervention to help resolve the crisis without further litigation.
Adherence to the Constitution: A strong plea for the club’s amended constitution to guide its operations.
Ongoing Efforts: Acknowledgment of the club captain’s leadership in promoting rule of law and transparency during this crisis.
Gadzama’s appeal aims to prevent further escalation and ensure that the club’s governance issues are resolved in accordance with legal and constitutional principles.
