The Nigeria Referees Association (NRA) has announce the death of its member, Mr.Okebukola Femi, in an auto crash.
Okebukola’s last active action was in the Week 4 NPFL match in Maiduguri, Bornor State where he was the referee for the Elkanemi Warriors vs Nassarawa Utd of Lafia.
After the game, the match officials including others from Imo, Kaduna and Rivers States left Maidugri the next day, while he boarded a vehicle travelling from Kano to Oyo where he was involved in an accident between Kano-Zaria road that claimed his life after the vehicle Summersault and got burnt. Troubled by the development, Kelechi Mejobi national poblicity secretary said the NRA has sent condolences to the family members and Oyo State Referees Council over the sad incident. President of the association, Otunba Tade Azeez also described the news of Okebukola’s death as shocking and unbelievable stating that it has thrown the entire referees family into grief as the association has lost one of its budding talents. He said that the deceased was one of the new entrants into the premier league promoted last season and expected to strengthen the list of referees in the premier cadre after retirement of aged ones.
Okebukola obtained his Grade One in 2012 after he joined Ibadan referees society in 2005, He is from Ona ara local govt of Oyo state. The late arbiter before death was the Secretary of Oluyole Referees Society. Married with children and was Promoted to premier league in 2017/2018 season as a Referee.