Sports
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| By Anayo Ezugwu |
A FEDERAL High Court in Jos, Plateau State, has nullified the election that brought Amaju Pinnick, president, Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, and his board into office and ordered Christopher Giwa to take over. Justice Musa Haruna Kurya, presiding judge, delivered the ruling on Friday, April 8, over the re-listed suit challenging the September 30, 2014, election process in Warri.
It would be recalled that before the elections in Warri, Giwa had been declared new NFF president through another congress that was held in Abuja. Justice Ambrose Allagoa, who presided over the hearing, had ruled in 2015 that the election as well as the congress preceding it were against his orders and ordered the plaintiff, Giwa, to return to office.
Following FIFA’s warning that Nigeria will be banned if the court ruling stops the newly-elected executive committee of Pinnick from working, former President Goodluck Jonathan had called both parties to a peace meeting where he advocated an end to the crisis to prevent imminent ban from the world football governing body.
When counsel to the plaintiff, Habila Ardzard, was to withdraw the matter, he told the court then that, “The number one citizen had demanded to intervene in the matter and that if parties are not satisfied, they can return to court.”
Giwa, who spoke to Channels Television after the ruling, praised the court for ruling in his favour. “This is victory for Nigeria football. The right ruling has been made and we are taking over immediately.”
Pinnick also confirmed the ruling of the court to Channels, adding that it is a setback for Nigerian football. “It is sad we are still taking football matters to court. The NFF will file for stay of execution and later appeal the case.”
Pinnick and Giwa had on January 20, 2016, engaged each other in fisticuffs in Abuja, after Solomon Dalung, minister of youths and sports, summoned them to hear from the warring parties. The two parties were locked in a battle for the soul of the NFF after the election in Warri, Delta State, on September 30, 2014, which produced the present board. The Confederation of African Football, CAF, and FIFA have both recognised the Pinnick-led board, while Giwa lost his case both in FIFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sports, CAS.
In the latest FIFA ranking, the Super Eagles dropped five points and now ranks 67th in the world and 14th in Africa. The team also failed to qualify for the 2017 African Cup of Nations, the second time in a row under the leadership of Pinnick.
— Apr 18, 2016 @ 01:00 GMT
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