Nigeria Risks FIFA Ban as Jos Court Annuls NFF Elections
Just as Nigerians are beginning a heave a sigh of relief about the troubles in the Nigerian football house, a court in Jos has again put the Nigerian soccer future on the tenterhooks.
A Federal High Court sitting in Jos has ruled that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) election of September 30, 2014 in Warri that brought in Amaju Pinnick as president of the NFF is invalid.
The NFF immediately appealed the ruling.
Two members of the Chris Giwa group, in defiance of FIFA threat, had gone to court to seek redress, asking the the court to stop the NFF congress from holding.
It was not clear as at press time, what will be the reaction of FIFA that had earlier threatened to clamp down on Nigeria if anything derails the outcome of the elections in Warri, makes of the situation.
Pinnick succeeded Aminu Maigari following developments that ratcheted up crisis in the football house after Nigeria’s participation in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Justice Ambrose Allagoa of the Federal High Court sitting in Jos declared in his ruling that “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.
“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.”
Justice Allagoa however overlooked the the contempt charge, but but advised all “parties (in the suit) are however warned” for disobeying his court.
NFF’s 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,” he stated.
The substantive matter in the case was adjourned by Justice Allagoa till November 25.
