By Oluwashina Okeleji BBC Sport, Lagos

NFL Chairman Oyuki Obaseki insists the deal with MTN is legitimate

The Nigeria Football League board (NFL) could be forced to abandon a lucrative deal with South African telecommunications company MTN.

This follows claims by Nigerian company Padmozi that it holds the rights negotiate sponsorship deals for the premier league until January 2007.

On Friday the NFL announced a record-breaking sponsorship deal with MTN reportedly worth US$17m over four years.

But Mike Itemuagbor, the CEO of Padmozi, claimed: "According to the contract that we signed with NFA, we still have the rights until 2007."

"We intend to fulfil that contract and I expect things to be done legally and not illegally."

According to Itemuagbor, the confusion over the contract stems from the fact the NFL was made independent from the NFA in 2004.

"NFL is within its rights to give it to whoever as from 2007. The real issue is that it has jumped the gun," contends Itemuagbor.

But Oyuki Obaseki, chairman of the NFL, confirmed to BBC Sport that Padmozi have no right nor control over the NFL under his leadership.

"I have kept quiet for two years without uttering any comment, Padmozi can keep on barking, I have given my league to a company that value its worth," Oyuki said.

"Seriously, I am not in a position to comment on the circumstances surrounding that contract (Padmozi's) with the NFA, because that reign and government is over.

"That kangaroo contract ended at the end of the 2006 soccer season which is over and I have the right to chose a new title sponsor and MTN has that role now.