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Tag: Amaju Pinnick

  • FIFA welcome Pinnick back to football world after elections

    FIFA welcome Pinnick back to football world after elections

    World Football governing body FIFA have welcomed back Amaju Pinnick after he won the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) elections to emerge President yet again.
    Pinnick was present in a panel meeting of the Organising Committee for FIFA Competitions held in Zurich, Switzerland on Monday, October 1.
    The welcome back given to Pinnick was the customary tradition to re-elected members according to a statement by the NFF.
    A member of the panel, Pinnick was lauded by FIFA President Gianni Infantino for returning back into the fold.
    The Nigeria football governing head was earlier inaugurated as the 1st Vice President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) by Africa’s football head Ahmad Ahmad on Sunday, September 30 at the 12th CAF Extra-Ordinary General Assembly held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.

    Pinnick beat Alhaji Aminu Maigari, Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi and Mr. Chinedu Okoye at the elections held Katsina to return as NFF president from 2018 till 2022.
    The NFF boss who was in attendance at the FIFA Best awards has already begun consulting with Business moguls such as Femi Otedola and Aliko Dangote on how to invest and help solve financial issues bedevilling Nigerian football.

     
     

  • Giwa faction distances self from Pinnick-led elective congress time-table

    Chris Giwa, President of a faction of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Congress, on Friday said his board would have nothing to do with the adjusted 2018 NFF Elective Congress time-table.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Electoral Committee set up by the Amaju Pinnick-led faction of the NFF had on Thursday rolled out a new time-table.

    It would have led to elections into the NFF Executive Committee 2018-2022, scheduled for Sept. 20.

    Giwa, while reacting in a statement in Abuja, said the time-table should be disregarded, as “it has no place in law and was not sanctioned by our legally-recognised board’’.

    He warned those still parading themselves as members of electoral committee to desist from doing so as they were in breach of the laws of the land.

    “We want to give the last warning, and strongly too, to the electoral committee members to stop forthwith their illegal actions and face the reality that the legally-recognised board did not sanction this electoral time-table,” he said.

    Giwa also warned the committee to stop issuing statements on any purported election or be ready to face the long arm of the law soon.

    “Our being quiet should not be misconstrued as ignorance of the law, as the enrollment order of the Federal High Court, Jos dated June 5 states inter alia:

    “That an order is granted to First and Second Applicants setting aside all acts, resolutions and or decisions made or taken by the Executive Committee of the NFF purportedly elected on Sept. 30, 2014.

    “Including the purported “ban’’ of the Executive Committee elected on Aug. 26, 2014 from all football activities, as illegal, ultra vires, unconstitutional and null and void.’’

    NAN reports that the Electoral Committee had announced an adjustment of the election time-table from Sept. 30 to Sept. 20.

    It noted that the amendments to the 2018 NFF Elections Time-table had been adopted by the Electoral Committee, consequent upon the resolutions of the NFF Extra-Ordinary General Assembly.

    NAN also reports that the Extra-Ordinary General Assembly was held in Benin City on Aug. 2.

    The NFF Congress had at the assembly suspended the statutory provisions of the 2010 NFF Statutes, NFF Electoral Code 2009 and Guidelines for Elections into the NFF 2018.

    NAN

  • NFF crisis: Again, Pinnick fails to stop Giwa in court

    The Federal High Court in Jos on Wednesday refused to grant a request to stop Chris Giwa from taking over as the President of Nigeria Football Federation.

    Amaju Pinnick, whose four-year tenure as NFF President is due to end on September 30, had filed a motion challenging the court’s ex-parte order which installed Giwa in office.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the court’s latest ruling meant Pinnick has again failed to dislodge Giwa from the NFF.

    Justice Musa Kurya, while ruling in the case between Yahaya Adama/Obinna Ogba and Aminu Maigari/Musa Ahmadu and two others, had on June 5 asked Pinnick’s NFF leadership to leave office.

    His order had followed a Supreme Court judgment asking the lower court to again look at the matter between Yahaya group and Maigari’s group for determination.

    But Pinnick, through his counsel, Festus Keyamo, had on July 5 stormed the court with two motions.

    They were demanding the vacation of the order, pending the determination of an application challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the case.

    Unfortunately, the motions could not be heard, due to objection by counsel to Adama and others, Mr Ardzard, leading to the case’s adjournment until July 10.

    When the case came up again on July 10, Keyamo’s representation claim for Maigari and Ahmadu, was challenged by Shangyula Samuel.

    Samuel had told the court that he was the only appointed and briefed representative of the duo of Maigari and Ahmadu.

    That argument took long, with Keyamo withdrawing his appearance for the duo and left to represent only Pinnick, leading the judge to adjourning the case to September 25 for hearing.

    Kurya had said that he was already on vacation and could only sit when there is a directive from the Chief Justice of the Federation .

    The fiat indeed came from the CJN and the case was then fixed for hearing on Wednesday.

    When the case came up, Festus Ukpe from Keyamo’s Chambers told the court he has three motions for filing before it and which would be done in the afternoon.

    But Ardzard had objected to the Ukpe’s application on the ground that he (Ukpe) had not served them with copies of the motions.

    Ukpe, in reply, said he intended to file later in the day and at the same serve all other counsels in the matter with copies of all the three motions.

    After all arguments, Kurya later had to again adjourn the case to September 25.

    He said this was to enable Pinnick’s counsel properly file his motions before the court and effect service to all the parties involved in the matter.

    NAN reports that this is the second effort by Pinnick to ensure Giwa was stopped from ousting him, by seeking an outright vacation of the order issued by the court.

    NAN

  • Long Knives Are Out: FIFA – Football Is Not For Africa. Part 2 – Tony Ajero

    By Tony Ajero

    We ended the last edition of this World Cup special with one soccer administrator’s impassioned chronicle of misdeeds against NFF President Amaju Pinnick. Since then, much water has passed under the bridge – water don pass garri. Our usual soap opera unhinged very speedily: and we continue to make ourselves the world’s laughing stock. While less-endowed nations are progressing at the World Cup (which may produce a new winner outside the traditional six baba nations who have ever won the world cup) we are enmeshed in our national cesspools of corruption-laden primitive politics.

    Out there in Russia, the excitement and income generation continue. Yesterday we saw France (Les Bleus) beat Uruguay (La Celeste) two zero. France’s goals came through Raphael Varane and Antoine Griezmann, though Uruguay’s goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, unwittingly lent a helping hand with his blunder for the second goal in the 60th minute. For me, the game of the night was Belgium knocking out serial Champions Brazil two one. Fernandinho’s own goal and Kevin De Bruyne’s goal off a Romelu Lukaku assist in a counter attack sent the Le Selecao home. Though Courtois was beaten once, his save in stoppage time would be rightly at the top for the “Save of the Tournament.”

    As ‘Double Doctor’ Larry Izamojie, owner of Brila radio – Nigeria’s flagship sports broadcast station said after the match – one positive to take way is that our players must learn to die on the pitch, and live afterwards. The Belgians gave it their all, and are now writ large in history books. This generation of players: Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard, Adnan Januzaj, Marouane Fallaini, Vincent Kompany, Michy Batshuayi, Thibaut Courtois, and Christian Benteke et al will never be forgotten. They have carved a niche for themselves.

    Back home, our administrators are also carving their niche in our national history. As if waiting for the World Cup exit cue, Sports Minister Solomon Dalung promptly threw the books at Pinnick; thus enabling Mr. Giwa ride majestically into the coveted NFF Glass House, Abuja Presidency with aplomb; Nigerian politics being not for the faint-hearted, Pinnick responded quickly and dexterously, Waffi style. The timeline as captured by TheNewsguru.com is canny but not funny.

    July 2, 2018: Nigeria Faces Fresh FIFA Ban As Dalung Sacks Amaju’s NFF

    A fresh ban by the world football governing body, FIFA, may be hanging on Nigeria as the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Barrister Solomon Dalung on Monday ordered the incumbent Amaju Pinnick-led NFF executive committee to give way to that led by Chris Giwa in compliance with a Supreme Court ruling.

    Dalung said in a statement that the directive followed a written notification signed by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice requesting the Ministry to ensure compliance. Consequently, Daluncg has 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 Amaaju Pinnick and others are also directed to comply with same,” said the minister.

    However, facts exclusively obtained by TheNewsGuru.com revealed that the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN) was yet to make such pronouncement.

     

    July 2, 2018: Chris Giwa Takes Over Office As NFF Chairman

    Following the order of Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Chris Giwa has assumed duty as President of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF). Minister Solomon Dalung had earlier today ordered the (Amaju-Pinnick-led) Nigeria Football Federation to vacate their office in respect to a ruling by the apex court in Nigeria, the Supreme Court.

     

    July 3, 2018: Pinnick, FIFA President Infantino, meet in Russia over crisis in Nigerian Football …as FIFA names Pinnick Match Commissioner Sequel to the sack of the Amaju Pinnick led executive of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) by the Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Barr. Solomon Dalung on Monday, the President of the world football governing body (FIFA) Gianni Infantino on Tuesday met with Pinnick in Russia over the crisis. The FIFA boss met with Pinnick before the commencement of the ongoing round 16 match between Sweden and Switzerland. A copy of the match start list sent exclusively to TheNewsguru.com also showed that the embattled NFF boss was the match commissioner.

     

    July 5, 2018: CAF Appoints Pinnick First Vice President The Confederation of African Football, CAF, has appointed the former Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Chairman, Amaju Pinnick to the post of CAF’s 1st Vice-President following the resignation of Mr. Kwesi Nyantakyi. CAF President Ahmad Ahmad, after consulting the members of the Emergency Committee, appointed Mr. Pinnick as 1st Vice President.

     

    July 6, 2018: EFCC Probes Amaju Pinnick, Shehu Dikko, Others

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is to investigate and take necessary action against Mr. Pinnick Amaju Melvin, Mallam Shehu Dikko and three other top board members of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). The probe follows a petition EFCC received from a former National Team Coach, James Peters, on May 4, 2018 with a heading “Monumental Stealing and Financial Crimes in the Nigeria Football Federation.”

    It alleged “unprecedented stealing, corrupt practices and financial crimes being perpetrated.” The former Technical Director also alleged “stealing and fraudulent activities by Financial Derivatives Ltd, a company cunningly brought into the NFF by President Amaju Pinnick for the sole purpose of warehousing money outside the official accounts of the NFF in the Central Bank and diverting same for fraudulent activities.”

    Why all these struggles? Is it the love for football? Or love for Nigeria? If you understand how huge the money in soccer is, then you begin to understand the Tarka-me-I Daboh-you struggles.

    On Saturday, we will look at The Money.

    Many Nigerians are not worried about the NFF – Sports Ministry imbroglio. But we should, else our tales of woe will continue, for the 2022 World Cup has already started. Unfortunately, it augurs ill that we have one faction in Abuja and another faction in Diaspora, albeit in the almighty FIFA. A house divided against itself, the Bible says, can never stand.

     

     

  • EFCC probes Amaju Pinnick, Shehu Dikko, others

    EFCC probes Amaju Pinnick, Shehu Dikko, others

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is to investigate and take necessary action against Mr Pinnick Amaju Melvin, Mallam Shehu Dikko and three other top board members of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

    Nneka Anibeze, Media Aide to Nigeria’s Minister of Youth and Sports, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.

    According to Anibeze, the probe follows a petition EFCC received from a former National Team Coach, James Peters, on May 4, 2018 with a heading ‘MONUMENTAL STEALING AND FINANCIAL CRIMES IN THE NIGERIA FOOTBALL FEDERATION received by the Executive Chairman of EFCC on May 4, 2018.

    In the petition, Peters who coached National teams and led them to notable victories and also served as Technical Director with the Nigeria Football Federation for many years urged the EFCC to carry out a thorough investigation on an alleged “unprecedented stealing, corrupt practices and financial crimes being perpetrated by the current President Mr Amaju Melvin Pinnick, the General Secretary Dr Mohammed Sanusi, the 1st Vice President Barrister Seyi Akinwumi, the 2nd Vice President Mallam Shehu Dikko and a member of the Executive Committee Alhaji Ahmed Yusuf (AKA Fresh).

    The former Technical Director also alleged “stealing and fraudulent activities by FINANCIAL DERIVATIVES LTD, a company cunningly brought into the NFF by President Amaju Pinnick for the sole purpose of warehousing money outside the official accounts of the NFF in the Central Bank and diverting same for fraudulent activities.”

    Similarly, the petition stated that “These NFF chieftains have also used the company MEDITERRANEAN SPORTS LIMITED belonging to Mallam Shehu Dikko who is the 2nd Vice President of the Executive Committee, Chairman of the League Management Company, a body saddled with the responsibility of running the Elite league, and attracts millions of dollars from sponsorships and Chairman, Marketing and Sponsorship sub-committee of the NFF to collect over 40% of revenues from the numerous sponsors of the NFF “.

    In a notification letter ref no. EFCC/EC/mos/59/17 written to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports by the Executive Chairman, the EFCC notified the Ministry that it has received a petition from Mr Peters and thereby ‘forward same for investigation and necessary action’.

    The Petitioner in the letter, alleged that despite the Federal government’s policy of Treasury Single Account where monies of government Parastatals are lodged for purposes of checking leakages etc, Mr Amaju Pinnick and others obtained the services of FINANCIAL DERIVATIVES COMPANY LTD to warehouse revenue accruing to the NFF from well spirited individuals and Corporate organizations which never got to the NFF. He alleged too that funds made available by corporate sponsors were never disclosed.

    Mr Peters called for a Forensic audit to be carried out to look at all approvals and retirements by the mentioned persons.

  • BREAKING: CAF appoints Pinnick First Vice President

    BREAKING: CAF appoints Pinnick First Vice President

    The Confederation of African Football, CAF, has appointed the former Nigeria Football Federation, NFF Chairman, Amaju Pinnick to resume the post of CAF’s 1st Vice-President following the resignation of Mr. Kwesi Nyantakyi.

    CAF President, Ahmad Ahmad, after consulting the members of the Emergency Committee, appointed Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick as 1st Vice-President.

    This decision is immediately applicable, in accordance with article 27 para. 2 of the Statutes, which will be ratified by the Executive Committee in its session scheduled on the 27 and 28 of September 2018.

    See official statement:

     

     

     

     

     

  • NFF crisis: Pinnick returns to court over fresh motion challenging Giwa’s office

    A Jos Federal High Court on Wednesday fixed July 10 to hear a new motion filed by immediate past NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, challenging the experte order it granted Chris Giwa, current President of the federation.

    Pinnick approached the court for the relief after the Supreme Court judgment which ordered him to comply with the lower court’s order that compelled him to vacate the office for Giwa.

    Justice Musa Kurya, the Presiding Judge in the case between Yahaya Adama and Alhaji Aminu Maigari had, on June 5, made an experte order asking Pinnick’s NFF leadership to vacate the Glass House for the Giwa-led executive.

    But Pinnick, through his counsel, Festus Keyamo (SAN), stormed the court with two motions demanding for the vacation of the order granted Giwa and others, pending the determination of an application challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the case.

    Though the case was heard in the chamber, the two counsel in the matter spoke to newsmen shortly after.

    Mr Festus Ukpe, who stood in for Keyamo, explained: “ We came to court to challenge the order which the court gave to Giwa led Exco.

    “Our aim or intention was to move our two motions, but the counsel to Adama and Ogba, Mr Habila Ardzard, opposed it on the ground that they only got possession of the motions today (Wednesday).

    “We told the judge that there was need for the court to hear these motions because of our fear of what Giwa will do in these few days that he claims he has power over Glass House.

    “That is why we argued that there was the need for the judge to vacate his order since we were not given fair hearing in the matter, which we are not a party to but for our interest.’’

    Ukpe said that after both sides made their submissions, the judge ruled and fixed July 10 for the hearing of the motions because of the urgency.

    Also, Ardzard said he had to oppose Pinnick from moving the motions “because by law, we are entitled to seven days within which we could study the motion and reply from the date of its receipt.

    “We were only asked to come to court today and when we came we were told that there were two motions which pinnick’s counsel intended to move today (Wednesday).

    “Of course, we had to oppose it and the court finally ruled in our favour and therefore, fixed July 10 for the hearing of the motions’’.

    Nonetheless, the order granted Giwa subsists until Tuesday, July 10 when the motions would be heard on their merit.

    NAN

  • Supporters’ club chief backs FG sacking of Pinnick-led NFF

    The Nigeria Football Supporters’ Club President-General Rafiu Ladipo is backing the Federal Government’s decision to obey the Supreme Court ruling removing the Nigeria Football Federation board headed by Amaju Pinnick.

    Sports minister Solomon Dalung on Monday directed the NFF to comply with the apex court judgment on April 27 restoring the orders of the Federal High Court setting aside the purported NFF election on September 30, 2014, which brought in Pinnick.

    Chris Giwa, who won at a parallel NFF poll on August 26, 2014, has since assumed control of the national football house.

    According to Punch, Ladipo, who criticised the Pinnick board for the early exit of the Super Eagles from the Russia 2018 World Cup, said the board deserved to go.

    He insisted that the board failed to move football forward in the country, citing the failure of the Eagles to qualify for two back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations.

    “We were the defending champions of the Chile 2015 FIFA Under-17 World Cup but we failed to qualify for the next edition in India,”

    “We lost our first qualifying match of the 2019 AFCON at home to Bafana Bafana, and now we have failed to reach the second round of the World Cup.”

    The club chief added, “ It’s good riddance to bad rubbish. Pinnick sees everybody in Nigerian football as a novice. His board didn’t care for those who risked their lives to come from Nigeria to support the Eagles here in Russia.

    “He achieved a lot for himself and zero for Nigerian football.”

    Ladipo pleaded with FIFA to show understanding, saying the body should allow the country to restructure the administration of the game.

    He backed the government’s decision to obey the court order on the disputed elections, calling for all football stakeholders to unite.

  • BREAKING: Chris Giwa take over office as NFF chairman

    Following the order of Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Chris Giwa has assumed duty as president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

    Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung had earlier today ordered the Nigeria Football Federation to vacate their office, in respect to a ruling by the apex court in Nigeria, the Supreme Court.

    Dalung said the directive followed a written notification by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice requesting the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports to ensure compliance.

    While addressing journalists at the glass house in Abuja, Giwa said his assumption of office was in line with the ruling of the court on June 5, 2018.

    He said the court had annulled the parallel election held in Warri by Pinnick and that it upheld him as the chairman.

    “I am here to claim my mandate as the substantive chairman elected on August 26, 2014,” he said.

    “We waited for the other board to finish the preparations for world cup so that we can assume office.”

    He promised to embark on reconciliation of all aggrieved members for the success of the federation.

    He explained that Nigeria’s sovereignty could not be threatened by any foreign interest, saying NFF operated in tandem with the country’s constitution.

    “We are grateful to God for making it possible for us to reclaim our mandate and we shall give Nigerians good results,” he said.

    Pinnick and Giwa had on September 19, 2014, filed their suit before the Federal High Court in Jos, praying for among others, that they along with others allegedly elected on August 26, 2014, be declared to be the legitimate executive board members of the NFF.

    On September 19, 2014, the Federal High Court granted an ex parte order restraining the NFF from conducting its General Assembly.

    But the federation went ahead to conduct the General Assembly in Warri, Delta State, which led to Pinnick’s emergence as NFF president on September 20, 2014.

    Three days later, the Federal High Court nullified the General Assembly and the elections for being held in defiance of a pending suit and the court’s restraining orders.

  • NFF to pay Super Eagles World Cup bonuses before Congo friendly

    NFF to pay Super Eagles World Cup bonuses before Congo friendly

    The President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, has revealed that Nigeria players will be paid their 2018 FIFA World Cup bonus before their friendly against DR Congo.

    The NFF and the Super Eagles players signed a graduated bonus structure in November and as part of that process, FIFA made advance payments of $2million to the national associations.

    Speaking to KweséESPN, Pinnick said: “FIFA paid $2million and we have been able to raise an additional $800 000.

    “That is what we need to pay the players and prosecute both the remaining pre-World Cup games and the World Cup itself.

    “The players will be paid their share of what we agreed with them as soon as they arrive for the friendly in Nigeria.”