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| Hon Dalung |
DALUNG’S DIRECTIVE: FIFA’S AXE DANGLES
OVER NIGERIA.
By Lovins Yakubu
3rd July, 2018
Following
the directive of the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Solomon
Dalung that the Nigeria football Federation (NFF) should comply with the
Supreme Court judgment, Hon. Chris Giwa assumed office on Monday promising a
new dawn at the Federation.
The
Apex Court’s judgment restored the orders of the Federal High Court sitting in
Jos Plateau State setting aside the purported election into the executive
committee of the NFF held in September 30, 2014 in Warri Delta State which saw
the emergence of the Amaju Pinnick – led board.
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| Pinnick |
Dalung
said in a statement last week that the directive followed a written
notification by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice,
Abubakar Malami (SAN), requesting the ministry of Youth and Sports to ensure
compliance with the judgment. He therefore, directed parties involved to comply
with the court order which he categorically made clear that it was not his
order.
In
compliance with the verdict of the Supreme Court judgement and the ministerial
directive, Giwa and his board members arrived at the NFF Secretariat at Wuse
Zone 7, Abuja at about 10am in company with a Supreme Court bailiff and held
their maiden meeting at the Secretariat which had in attendance the Chairman,
Senate Committee on Sports, Senator Obinna Ogba.
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| Giwa |
African Drum
learnt that the new board took over at the NFF Secretariat amidst tight
security provided by the Nigerian Police Force to effect the court order.
However,
analysts who spoke to this magazine observed that the development has negative
implication on Nigeria and the potency of crippling our football. Kenny Uche
and Samson Mipu both sports enthusiasts in Jos said that one of the negative
implication of the development is that Nigeria will not participate in the
African Cup of Nations that will be held next year in Cameroon. Qualifiers for
the tournament resume in September this year.
Isiaka
Badamosi a former football coach in Jos also observed with regret that this is
happening to us as a nation stressing that we have to wait and see as event
untold but that it was obvious that Nigeria football and the football-loving Nigerians
will be at the receiving end.
A
source informed this magazine that the world football- governing body (FIFA) is
aware of the development and has already called an emergency congress over the
matter in Moscow. The source said that FIFA in a correspondence to Giwa’s
lawyer, Patrick Ikwueto after the Supreme Court order on June 5, 2018, had
maintained that Giwa remained banned from all football activities and as such,
it recognized only the Amaju Pinnick – led board.
The
source said that with this, the obvious implication is that if any attempt is
made to recognize Chris Giwa and not Amaju Pinnick and his board, FIFA will
definitely impose a lengthy ban on Nigeria from all football competitions both local
and international.
Another
source who spoke to African Drum on
condition of anonymity said it is the highest football body in the Country
(congress) that will determined if Giwa will be accepted as president or not.
According to the source, the congress did not vote for Giwa and there was no
election that brought him in.”
Festus
Keyamo, solicitor to Amaju Pinnick in a press statement yesterday said the
directive by Dalung was null and void and of no effect adding that the court
order was not binding on FIFA and NFF an affiliate of FIFA. The statement added
that Chris Giwa and his so-called members do not have any locus standi with
regards to footballing matters and the federal government cannot have any
dealing with them.
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