Nigeria is in danger of another FIFA ban
after a court ruled that elections that
ushered in Delta FA chairman Amaju
Pinnick as president of the Nigeria Football
Federation (NFF) last month were illegal.
World football governing body FIFA have
warned that should anything hinder the
newly-elected NFF executive committee led
by Pinnick from operating, they will move
for an automatic ban for the country till
the next FIFA congress in May.
On Thursday, Justice Ambrose Allagoa of
the Federal High Court Jos ruled against
the NFF elections in Warri of September 30
as well as the congress preceding it
because they were against his orders.
“I have set aside all the proceedings and
decisions of the Warri Extra Ordinary
meeting of the 20th September and the
Elective Congress of 30th September which
were direct contravention of the orders of
this court as granted on the 19th
September,” said Justice Allagoa.
“Nobody should foist on the court a
complete case of hopelessness so that the
principles of law and justice can be
upheld. Its not enough to say that the
order of court was wrongly made, no
matter how unorthodox, its subsisting
orders, unless set aside, remains law and
must be respected.
“Defendants in this matter have not filed
any counter affidavits in this court to
contest the facts. There is no motion nor
Memorandum of Appearance. This is a
court of Record. On this note, the court
has no option to protect the integrity and
sanctity of court. Court orders are not tea
party. Nobody is above the law. Impunity
must be stopped.”
Some persons on behalf of Chris Giwa,
who maintained he was elected NFF
president on August 26, took the matter to
the court even though FIFA statutes forbid
football matters to be deliberated in a civil
court.
FIFA did not recognise the election of Giwa
and warned he and his supporters to
vacate the NFF office in Abuja.
In July, Nigeria was suspended briefly after
another Jos court sacked the NFF then led
by Aminu Maigari and the country’s sports
minister appointed a civil servant to run
the federation.
NFF appeals
The executive committee of Nigeria Football
Federation has filed for appeal against the
ruling of the Federal High Court, Jos
Judicial Division of Thursday, which
annulled the NFF elections of September
30.
The Judge had given the order annulling
the elections despite a preliminary
objection filed by the NFF challenging the
jurisdiction of the court to hear the case.
NFF 1st Vice President, Seyi Akinwunmi,
said: “We have been notified of the ruling
of the court, which was made in spite of
our filing for a preliminary objection
concerning the jurisdiction of the court.
“However, our lawyers have gone to work
immediately the order was made. We are
appealing the ruling and also filing for stay
of execution of the order.”
On Thursday, Justice Ambrose Allagoa of
the Federal High Court Jos ruled against
the NFF elections in Warri of September 30
as well as the congress preceding it.
“I have set aside all the proceedings and
decisions of the Warri Extra Ordinary
meeting of the 20th September and the
Elective Congress of 30th September which
were direct contravention of the orders of
this court as granted on the 19th
September,” said Justice Allagoa.
“Nobody should foist on the court a
complete case of hopelessness so that the
principles of law and justice can be
upheld. Its not enough to say that the
order of court was wrongly made, no
matter how unorthodox, its subsisting
orders, unless set aside, remains law and
must be respected.”
Source: www.vanguardngr.com/2014/10/court-sacks-pinnicks-nff/

When will Nigeria stop this show of shame?

this is anoda stumbling block to a successful 2015 AFCON qualification campaign!i weep for dis country.