Sacked Enyimba accountant challenges club over unpaid N38m benefits

A former accountant of Enyimba FC, Ebere Ahiara, has alleged that the nine-time Nigerian champions owe him salaries and allowances to the tune of N38m following the termination of his appointment after 33 years of service at the club, The According reports.

Ahira was relieved of his duties by the club in a letter dated December 29, 2023, following the appointment of another accountant.

“I regret to inform you that the management has been forced to strategically downsize due to the current economic conditions and the difficulty in managing the inadequate finances of the club,” Sam Anozie, Chief of Staff to the Enyimba chairman, Nwankwo Kanu, notified Ahire on behalf of the chairman.

“In light of the above, your services will no longer be needed by the club as the management has improvised another way to provide those services you render.

“Your salary has been paid up till December 2023, which is the last month you will receive salary from Enyimba FC.”

In his acceptance, Ahire, however, noted that he received the letter February 9, 2024, thus claiming salaries for January and February 2024 and an outstanding March 2023 salary plus other allowances.

“I am grateful to God for the opportunity given to me to serve the club meritoriously in the Accounts/Finance Department for 33 years and six months without a single record of misconduct,” Ahire’s response read.

“Sir, I am confident that the management of the club will be willing to approve and make payment of my terminal benefits hereunder listed: March 2023 salary, balance of October 2023 salary, balance of December 2023 salary, January 2024 salary, February 2024 salary, six months salaries in lieu of notice, annual leave allowances and in lieu of leave allowances for 33 years totaling N38,462,000.00,” Ahira wrote.

Reacting to the allegations, the Chief of Staff to Kanu, Anozie, described Ahire’s claim as frivolous.

“He is talking about a leave allowance of N1m every year and we asked if he worked for 33 years and didn’t receive leave allowance. How would the new management pay him such money? That is a very frivolous claim,” Anozie told The According.

 “The government appointed another accountant for the club, so, we decided to let him go, as the whole place was overstaffed. He was supposed to have left before December, immediately another person was appointed, but we paid him up till December in lieu.

“What was he doing by the January and February he is claiming? Nothing,” Anozie added.

Enyimba, two-time winners of the CAF Champions League, finished the 2023/24 Nigeria Premier League in third-place and will be competing in the CAF Confederation Cup next season.