The Minister of Youth and Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung has directed the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to comply with the judgment of the Supreme Court delivered on April 27, 2018, which restored the orders of the Federal High Court, setting aside the purported election into the Executive Committee of the NFF held on September 30, 2014 implying that Amaju Pinnick should step down from his position as NFF President.
The judgment compels the defendants, including the Minister of Youth and Sports, their servants, agents and privies howsoever, the Inspector General of Police and all law enforcement agencies to forthwith enforce the orders made by the court on 19th September 2014 and 23rd October 2014 and give recognition to the General Assembly Meeting and election of the NFF held on 26th August 2014 under the leadership of Amb Chris Giwa pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice filed in this case.
A statement to this effect was issued by Nneka Ikem Anibeze, the special aide on media to the Minister saying the directive followed a written notification signed for the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) requesting the sports ministry to ensure compliance with the judgment.
The notification states thus: “I have been directed to notify you of the Orders dated June 5th 2018 made by Honorable Justice M. H. Kurya sitting at the Federal High Court Jos in respect of the above mentioned suit between Yahaya Adama Vs Alhaji Aminu Maigari which states that the election of the NFF held on August 26, 2014 under the leadership of Amb Chris Giwa be given recognition pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed in this case and that the purported ban of the Executive Committee elected on August 26, 2014 from football activities of the NFF is unconstitutional, null and void.
“It is trite law that court orders are sacrosanct and any acts of disobedience to it constitutes threat to the rule of law. Consequent upon the above, you are hereby advised to comply with the orders of court made therein which for now, is the valid and binding order of court, in the absence of any other subsisting order or judgment to the contrary.
Based on this, Dalung directed the parties involved to comply with the court order.
“This is a court order and not from Dalung. I will not want to go to Kuje prison because of disobedience of court orders. Therefore, I hereby comply with the court orders of June 5th 2018, while Mr Amaju Pinnick and others are also directed to comply with same.”
Giwa arrived the secretariat of the FA Monday with police protection and told journalists thus: “I am here to claim my mandate as the substantive chairman elected on August 26, 2014.
“We waited for the other board to finish the preparations for World Cup so that we can assume office.”
Pinnick and FIFA have not officially reacted to the development.
Recall that FIFA had reportedly written to Giwa and others, saying it only recognised the Pinnick-led NFF and has repeatedly warned Nigeria and other countries to ensure there was no government interference in football as such interference could lead to suspension of a country’s national team from global and continental football.