Mbidi loses defamation battle
23 October 2019 | Sports
Former Namibia Football Association (NFA) president Frans Mbidi's bid to sue Roger Kambatuku, the former chairman of the NFA ad hoc committee, has failed.
Mbidi dragged Kambatuku to court over alleged defamation and demanded N$500 000.
The High Court, however, ruled in favour of Kambatuku on Monday, leaving the former NFA president with a hefty legal bill.
“Yes, I was not present at the court because this thing has been postponed on many occasions, but I was informed that the case was not successful.
“The way forward for me is to wait for advice from my lawyers on what I am going to do now.
“That is why I will not be able to say much at the moment, until I have a clear idea of what to do,” Mbidi said.
The former NFA president took Kambatuku to court after Kambatuku allegedly accused him of engaging in fraudulent and corrupt activities, and using his office to benefit financially.
These accusations led to Mbidi being fired by the NFA executive committee in October last year, in the absence of a hearing.
Kambatuku had also alleged that Mbidi failed a Fifa integrity check and deliberately withheld this information from the NFA executive committee.
He further claimed that Mbidi corruptly upgraded his flight ticket from economy to business class, at a cost of N$90 000, in order to attend the Fifa Women's Football Symposium in Canada during 2015.
Kambatuku yesterday said that he was relieved that he emerged victorious.
“I am very happy about this because I spent so much money on lawyers during this case.
“I will not be able to tell you the exact amount at the moment, but it was so much money.
“I am just happy that this is over and I can actually finally rest,” Kambatuku added.
Jesse Jackson Kauraisa
Mbidi dragged Kambatuku to court over alleged defamation and demanded N$500 000.
The High Court, however, ruled in favour of Kambatuku on Monday, leaving the former NFA president with a hefty legal bill.
“Yes, I was not present at the court because this thing has been postponed on many occasions, but I was informed that the case was not successful.
“The way forward for me is to wait for advice from my lawyers on what I am going to do now.
“That is why I will not be able to say much at the moment, until I have a clear idea of what to do,” Mbidi said.
The former NFA president took Kambatuku to court after Kambatuku allegedly accused him of engaging in fraudulent and corrupt activities, and using his office to benefit financially.
These accusations led to Mbidi being fired by the NFA executive committee in October last year, in the absence of a hearing.
Kambatuku had also alleged that Mbidi failed a Fifa integrity check and deliberately withheld this information from the NFA executive committee.
He further claimed that Mbidi corruptly upgraded his flight ticket from economy to business class, at a cost of N$90 000, in order to attend the Fifa Women's Football Symposium in Canada during 2015.
Kambatuku yesterday said that he was relieved that he emerged victorious.
“I am very happy about this because I spent so much money on lawyers during this case.
“I will not be able to tell you the exact amount at the moment, but it was so much money.
“I am just happy that this is over and I can actually finally rest,” Kambatuku added.
Jesse Jackson Kauraisa
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