TheNewsGuru

Tag: NFF

  • FIFA approves Stephen Keshi Stadium, as Obasanjo commissions main bowl

    World football governing body, Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) has approved the Stephen Keshi Stadium for international football championship.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick made this known on Sunday at Super Eagles arrival at the Asaba International Airport after their qualifying match for AFCON with the Bafana Bafana of South Africa.

    The NFF President stated that it was a thing of pride for the Super Eagles to travel through the Asaba International Airport.

    “When it was announced yesterday (Saturday) that we are boarding and flying to Asaba, it gave me great joy, it shows that God rules supreme in Delta State, we have qualified for AFCON and we are going to Cameroon to make great impact.

    “On behalf of NFF, I thank the Governor and the good people of Delta State for their show of enthusiasm since the Super Eagles came, that stadium is wonderful and the Super Eagles will beat Uganda in their friendly match, remember that the Ugandan Team has also qualified for AFCON,” Amaju said.

    Meanwhile, former President Olusegun Obasanjo is in Delta state to commission some key projects of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, including the main bowl of the Stephen Keshi Stadium.

    The former president will also commission the old Lagos-Asaba road, Agbor and the Owa-Eke/Owa-Alero road in Ika North East Local Government Area.

     

  • Asaba airport excites Gov. Okowa, NFF President

    Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has described the first international flight into the Asaba International Airport as momentous as it brought back the Super Eagles from South Africa after qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

    Governor Okowa described the moment thus while receiving the Super Eagles on arrival at the Asaba International Airport after their qualifying match for AFCON with the Bafana Bafana football club of South Africa.

    Governor Okowa who spoke through his Chief of Staff, Hon. Tam Brisibe, stated, “this is momentous bearing in mind that the flight successfully took the Super Eagles to South Africa and came back without hitches.

    “It is more gratifying to note that the Super Eagles trained at the Stephen Keshi Stadium before leaving for South Africa through the Asaba Airport; they went to South Africa and qualified for Cameroon 2019”.

    He further stated that “the principal thing was qualifying for Cameroon and by God’s grace, we have qualified for AFCON, we congratulate the Super Eagles for making Nigeria proud”.

    President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Mr Pinnick Amaju said he was excited that FIFA has approved the Stephen Keshi Stadium for international football championship, adding that it was a thing of pride for the Super Eagles to travel through the Asaba International Airport.

    “When it was announced yesterday (Saturday) that we are boarding and flying to Asaba, it gave me great joy, it shows that God rules supreme in Delta State, we have qualified for AFCON and we are going to Cameroon to make great impact,” Mr Amaju said, emphasising, “on behalf of NFF, I thank the Governor and the good people of Delta State for their show of enthusiasm since the Super Eagles came, that stadium is wonderful and the Super Eagles will beat Uganda in their friendly match, remember that the Ugandan Team has also qualified for AFCON”.

    Special Project Director of Asaba International Airport, Chief Austin Ayomedejo, in an encounter, said, “I feel excited, we give God the glory for using the Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa to achieve this great fit; what is more important is that we have been upgraded to Category C airport, which allows bigger aircraft to land”.

     

  • Nigeria v South Africa: NFF dismisses alleged visa denial reports

    Nigeria v South Africa: NFF dismisses alleged visa denial reports

    The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) on Friday dismissed reports of an alleged denial of visas to some Super Eagles players by the South African Embassy in Turkey.

    Dr Mohammed Sanusi, the NFF General Secretary dismissed the report during an interview with the News Agency (NAN) on Friday while leading a delegation to inspect facilities at the Pa Ngele Oruta Stadium, Abakaliki.

    NAN reports that a section of the media on Thursday alleged that the South African Embassy in Turkey denied three Turkish-based Super Eagles players, visa into South Africa for Saturday’s AFCON 2019 qualifier.

    According to the reports, the development made the players to process their travel documents in Nigeria which affected their early report to the team’s camp and the needed concentration in training.

    Sanusi noted that the NFF never received such report as it would have been notified if such an incident occurred.

    “I know that there are mechanisms to ensure that such issues are checked and they are not to be left in the hands of the South African authorities alone.

    “I would have informed the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to act accordingly, so as far as the NFF is concerned, there is nothing like that,” he said.

    The NFF scribe, however, tipped the Super Eagles for victory in the encounter, adding that the NFF had prepared the team adequately for the task.

    “The team has the quality to deliver on match day because it is not afraid of any team but gives all teams their due respect.

    “Nigerians should pray extensively for the team because it is not in all instances that techniques and tactics work in football.

    “A shot can be taken during a match and it would hit the bar but prayers can make it enter into the goal post,” he said.

    He dismissed the fears that the absence of some prominent members of the team would affect its chances against the South Africans, noting that such fears were unfounded.

    “When a good player is discovered in Nigeria, millions of others have yet to be discovered as the players on parade have the opportunities of proving their mettle.

    “The problem is when a coach pins his playing pattern on a particular player and the player gets injured, but when such injuries occur ahead of time, there is no cause for alarm,” he said.

    NAN

  • Three NFF officials docked over alleged misappropriation of $9.5m FIFA grant

    Three NFF officials docked over alleged misappropriation of $9.5m FIFA grant

    Three officials of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) were on Thursday docked in an FCT High Court at Maitama, accused of misappropriating 9.5 million Dollars and $1. 3 million.
    The defendants are Christopher Andekin, NFF Director of Administration and Finance, Reagan Zaka, Cashier and Fadanari Mamza, Head, Finance and Account Department.
    They were dragged to the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a five-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, breach of trust and misappropriation.
    The prosecutor, Mr Steve Odiase told the court that the three defendants conspired between Jan. 8 and Jan. 26, 2015 to commit the offences, contrary to Section 97 of Penal Code.
    Odiase alleged that Andekin was entrusted with money meant for the development of football in Nigeria, a grant from the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA).
    He said that Andekin however fraudulently diverted $1.3 million from the NFF domiciliary account with Zenith Bank, an act that is contrary to section 311 of the Penal Code.
    He further alleged that Zaka on his part, fraudulently diverted 7. 2 million Dollar grant from FIFA for development of football in Nigeria while Mamza diverted $2. 3 million.
    The defendants all pleaded not guilty to the charges, and their counsel, Mr Arinze Egbo applied for their bail.
    The Judge, Justice Peter Affen upheld the administrative bail granted to them earlier by the EFCC.
    In addition, he ordered that the sureties should sign bond with the registrar of the court, and the defendants should deposit their International passports.
    Affen then adjourned until Nov. 27, for commencement of trial.
    NAN

  • NFF: Court fixes arraignment of Andekin, two others over $9.5m fraud

    NFF: Court fixes arraignment of Andekin, two others over $9.5m fraud

    The arraignment of Christopher Andekin, a director in the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, and two other officials of the Federation on a 5-count charge of fraud to the tune of $$9.5million scheduled for today, October 15, 2018 could not hold after all.
    Andekin, who is the Director of Administration and Finance, was to be arraigned before Justice Peter Affem of the FCT High Court, Abuja alongside Rajan Zaka, a cashier and Jafaru Fadanari Mamza, Head, Finance and Account Department of the NFF.
    The trio, in 2015 allegedly diverted money to the tune of $9,535,923.87 belonging to the Federation to personal use. The money was a grant given by the Federation of International Football Association, FIFA, for the development of football in Nigeria.
    It is also alleged that Andekin fraudulently diverted N1,353,407.22 from the domiciliary account of the NFF domiciled in one of the new generation banks, without due process.
    Particulars of one of the counts read:
    “That you, Christopher Andekin, being the Director of Admin and Finance of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on or about 8th day of January to 26th day of January 2015 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja while being entrusted with dominion over money meant for the Development of Football in Nigeria, a grant from the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) to NFF fraudulently, diverted the sum of N1,353,407.22 from the NFF domiciliary account No. 5070407456 with the Zenith Bank into your personal use and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code Cap 532 LFN 1990 and punishable under Section 312 of the same Code.”
    Another count reads: “That you, Rajan Zaka, being a cashier with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in Abuja within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja while being entrusted with dominion over money meant for the Development of Football in Nigeria, a grant from the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) to NFF fraudulently, diverted the sum of $6,490,900.48 from the NFF domiciliary account No. 5070407456 with the Zenith Bank into your personal use and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 311of the Penal Code Cap 532 LFN 1990 and punishable under Section 312 of the same Code.”
    When the case was called, though the defendants were present in court, they could not take their plea as counsel representing them informed the court that he was ‘just’ served with the charge, and asked the court for a date to enable him study the charge.
    In the circumstance, Justice Affem asked parties to come back on Thursday, October 18, 2018 for the arraignment.

  • 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.

     
     

  • Chris Giwa faults Keyamo on NFF leadership crisis

    Chris Giwa faults Keyamo on NFF leadership crisis

    Chris Giwa, factional President, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has faulted a statement credited to a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Festus Keyamo, on the leadership crisis rocking the country’s football.

    Mr Habilla Ardzard, Giwa’s lawyer in a statement issued on Tuesday, said that Keyamo misinformed Nigerians on the NFF leadership tussle.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), recalls that Keyamo, lead counsel to Amaju Pinnick, in a statement on Aug. 26, alleged that there was no court order preventing his client from acting as NFF President.

    He also said that there was no court order to install Chris Giwa as President of NFF.

    According to Keyamo, “There is no Supreme Court order or any other subsisting order restraining Amaju Pinnick from acting as President of the NFF or installing Chris Giwa as president of the NFF.

    “We hereby challenge anybody who disputes this to publish the Supreme Court judgment or order where the names of Amaju Pinnick or Chris Giwa were ever mentioned in any portion of the judgment or as even parties to the case.

    “The fact is that the court processes filed in the Supreme Court matter do not bear their names as parties to the suit whatsoever,” he added.

    Ardzard, however, dismissed Keyamo’s position and clarified that the order was not contingent on any futuristic occurrence and as such, was final.

    “The attention of the NFF Executive Committee elected on Aug. 26, 2014 has been drawn to a press statement issued on Aug. 26, 2018, by the office of Festus Keyamo, SAN counsel to the Amaju Pinnick-led purported board on the current situation of Nigeria football.

    “Ordinarily, we could have ignored the press statement, but for the misinformation contained therein and its design to mislead and hoodwink unsuspecting Nigerians into according unmerited credibility to the Amaju Pinnick-led illegal board of the NFF.

    “In the press statement, Festus Keyamo, SAN sought to mislead Nigerians by alleging that there was no court order preventing Amaju Pinnick from acting as NFF President and installing Chris Giwa in office.

    “We wish to clarify that by the order of the Federal High Court made on Oct. 23 2014, the election of Sept. 30, 2014, which purportedly brought Amaju Pinnick to office was nullified. This order was not contingent on any futuristic occurrence and was thus final.

    “The application upon which the order was made was not ex-parte, but was on notice and in its judgment delivered on April 27, 2018, the Supreme Court gave recognition to this order.

    “If the purported election which produced Amaju Pinnick and his group was nullified, can they and their purported board be said to have a legally recognised mandate?

    “The Supreme Court had at various times clarified that if something is said to be a nullity, such a thing does not have existence. The foregoing position is anchored on an elementary principle of law that you cannot put something on nothing, and expect it to stand,” Ardzard said

    He pointed out that the order of the Federal High Court made on June 5, 2018 in clear terms, restrained Amaju Pinnick and his team from parading themselves as the board of the NFF.

    Ardzard also pointed out that the orders of the Federal High Court made on Sept. 19, 2014 and June 5, 2018, gave recognition to the Chris Giwa-led board of the NFF and compelled the government and relevant security agencies in the country to enforce same.

    Giwa’s lawyer wondered why Keyamo should try to mislead Nigerians by saying that the names of Chris Giwa and Amaju Pinnick were not mentioned in any of the orders made by the court.

    He explained that the suit at the Federal High Court was a representative action instituted on behalf of all members of the NFF board elected on Aug. 26, 2014, including Chris Giwa.

    “Similarly, by laying claim to the presidency of the NFF, Amaju Pinnick was taking benefit from the illegal act of the former board of the NFF; this being so, he must also take the corresponding liability associated with the conduct of that same board.

    “It is immoral to take benefit of the action of the former board of the NFF and duck the liability that comes with the same conduct.

    “Moreover, the name of Amaju Pinnick clearly appears in the order of June 5, 2018 wherein he and his purported board were restrained from parading themselves as the legitimate board of the NFF,”Ardzard said

    He urged Keyamo to explain to Nigerians why the Pinnick-led NFF board appealed against the order of the Federal High Court at the Court of Appeal.

    “It would be recalled that the order made on April 8, 2016, inter alia relisted the suit, which was withdrawn and struck out on Oct. 30, 2014.

    “It therefore defies logic and common sense that the order made to relist a case would be interpreted to mean it confirmed the striking out of the suit.

    “The question whether or not the Supreme Court affirmed the restoration of the orders of the Federal High Court nullifying the election that produced Amaju Pinnick and his group and recognising the Chris Giwa-led board is not debatable.

    “Both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court being appellate courts do not enforce orders as only the court of first instance can do so.

    “Having gotten the orders made by the Federal High Court recognised by the Supreme Court, the Chris Giwa-led board must go back to the Federal High Court being the court of first instance to have those orders enforced.’’

    “This was why the Chris Giwa-led board approached the Federal High Court Jos for the enforcement of the orders of June 5, 2018,’’ Ardzard said.

    NAN

  • NFF crisis: No Supreme Court order stopping Pinnick – Keyamo

    Human rights lawyer Festus Keyamo (SAN) has said there is no Supreme Court order stopping Amaju Pinnick from acting as President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

    According to Keyamo, the Supreme Court also never installed Chris Giwa as NFF President, neither were both men parties to any suit where such orders were made.

    Keyamo, Pinnick’s lawyer, stated this yesterday in a statement made available to newsmen on the crisis rocking the football house.

    The Director, Strategic Communications for the President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2019 presidential campaign, described people making such claims, as “uninformed and/or deliberately mischievous.”

    He traced the source of the rumour to two press releases issued by the office of the Minister for Sports, Solomon Dalung, on July 2 and August 21.

    He advised “football lovers, stakeholders and the general public” to ignore the reports.

    The lawyer further explained that Giwa’s fight to become the NFF President had become academic because Pinnick’s tenure expired last night.

    According to him, “the tenure of office which is the subject of dispute of the case filed by Giwa’s group since 2014, lapsed on the 26th of August.”

    Keyamo said: “We hereby challenge anybody who disputes this to publish the Supreme Court Judgment or Order where the names of Amaju Pinnick or Chris Giwa were ever mentioned in any portion of the judgment or as even parties to the case. The fact is that the court processes filed in the Supreme Court matter do not bear their names as parties to the suit whatsoever.”

    Giwa and Pinnick have been involved in a recurring leadership tussle since 2014 culminating in an appeal reaching the Supreme Court.

    “What the Supreme Court did was to relist the case and remit it back to the Federal High Court for expeditious determination on its merits, while firmly declining the Motion brought by the plaintiffs (Giwa) in the matter to invoke its general powers under Section 22 of the Supreme Court Act to deal with the substantive suit,” he added.

    Keyamo explained that although the Supreme Court restored all previous orders made in the proceedings in the suit, it did not matter.

    He said: “In any event, and much more fundamentally, neither Amaju Pinnick nor Chris Giwa is even mentioned in the said ‘previous’ orders, nor were either of them made parties to the suit and, therefore, would not ordinarily be bound by Orders given in that suit “Another question to be asked is that if Giwa and his team had a Supreme Court Order granting him the right to the NFF Presidency, why would they have to go back to the Federal High Court to surreptitiously procure a fresh ex parte order dated June 5, 2018 for the same purpose and containing reliefs totally different from the “previous” orders of 19th day of September 2014?”

    The lawyer stated that an ex parte order obtained by Giwa on July 2, expired after 14 days.

    “The implication of the foregoing is that the Interim Order which Chris Giwa and his team are parading as entitling them to the leadership of the NFF automatically lapsed on the 16th of July, 2018,” Keyamo said.

    The lawyer accused Giwa’s team of delaying the court case.

    He said: “Since the 2nd of July, 2018, the court has sat four times (July 4th 2018; July 10th, 2018; July 31st 2018 and; August 17th 2018). However, neither the matter nor motions have been heard, with the case always adjourned.

    “These adjournments happened at the behest of Giwa’s lawyers, who obviously are not interested in hearing the matter, thus always raising one technical issue or the other to ensure adjournment of the matter (which they always celebrated as if the case had been decided).

    “Meanwhile, all this while, they were busy in Abuja parading themselves as court-recognised NFF based on an expired ex-parte order while they refused to allow the court to go into the substantive matter to determine it on its merit.”

    He said by adjourning the case indefinitely allegedly at Giwa’s behest, the Federal High Court had not complied with the order of the Supreme Court to hear the matter on time.

    “In summary, it should, therefore, be noted that the court gave an ex-parte interim order removing someone who is not party to a suit from office, installing another who is not party to the suit, declined to take the motion challenging that interim order and then adjourned the matter sine die (indefinitely).”

    He debunked a claim by Dalung that both parties (Giwa and Amaju) went to the court and have benefited at one point or the other in this regard.

    He said: “This is definitely a non-factual statement as Amaju Pinnick and his Board have never ever taken football matters to court or sued any person in an ordinary court of law over football matters.

    “Amaju Pinnick and his Board are, however, duty bound to respond to any court Summons and appear before the court to explain to the court that the matter, such as this, is a football matter not subject to the court’s jurisdiction.

    “This was what was done since 2014 when Giwa’s group sued the NFF. Unfortunately, this motion is still pending before the court in the lamentable circumstances recounted here previously.”

    Keyamo stated that his client was not bothered by the threat of contempt proceedings by Chris Giwa and his team, describing it as ’empty’.

  • NFF crisis: Clark calls for Sports Minister’s sack over incompetence

    Edwin Clark has called for sack of the Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Mr Solomon Dalung, for allegedly discrediting Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for recognising Amaju-Pinnick-led Board of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF).

    The elder statesman Clark, who made the call in a statement on Saturday in Abuja, said reports of “disloyalty and parochial utterances’’ credited to Dalung in various media reports were embarrassing.

    According to Clark, for the minister to discredit the very patriotic and timely intervention of Osinbajo as Acting President, to recognise the Amaju Pinnick-led Board of the NFF is unacceptable.

    The elder statesman further said there was no sense in the minister of sports discrediting a laudable action that saved Nigeria from ban by the world football governing body FIFA.

    “This was an action taken by the Acting President at a very critical stage of our football history to avert FIFA’s ban on Nigeria.

    “Osibanjo restored to the global platform of honour, an action commended by all and sundry, locally and internationally.

    “If this action was not taken by the Acting President at the time he did, it will have been a disgrace and a setback for Nigerian football.

    “But here is Mr Dalung, Nigeria’s Minister of Sports, who unfortunately, thinks and behaves differently.’’

    Clark said the action of the vice president called for commendation and not condemnation.

    “Instead of rejoicing and towing the line of the government under which he is serving, he has unfortunately showed total disrespect and disloyalty for the Acting President and the government in his open show of ignorance and incompetence.’’

    Clark quoted Dalung as saying, “as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria who took oath of office to defend the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I will prefer to stand with the Rule of Law, instead of the opinion of men.

    “We are a constitutional democracy and the doctrine of separation of powers is the foundation of democratic experience.

    “Therefore, the Rule of Law is the only mechanism that guarantees liberty and freedom of citizens.

    “This administration is elected on the change mantra, meaning that impunity has no accommodation anywhere.

    “So, Nigerians must learn to believe and practice the doctrine of the Rule of Law. I believe we shall overcome this if we remain within the confines and dictates of the laws of our country.’’

    Clark noted that the decision taken by Osibanjo was well informed, adding that, he is a Prof. of Law, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, and former Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice of Lagos State.

    He stressed that Osibanjo had for decades, taken the oath of Office to defend the same Constitution and the Rule of Law.

    “I also swore to the same oath when I qualified as a lawyer 53 years ago. What is the minister talking about defending the constitution and obeying the rule of law?

    “After reading what the Honourable Minister says, one is left to wonder in whose interest he is serving, because it is obviously not in the interest of government and the Nigerian people.

    “He never showed any concern whether Nigeria was banned by FIFA or not, except his own interest.

    “For instance, the minister knows that Mr Chris Giwa had been banned for five years by FIFA, yet, he put him on the list of a 15-man delegation to FIFA in Switzerland.

    “Another clear case is when Mr President directed the Department of State Services (DSS), to flush out Mr Chris Giwa and his subordinates from the Glass House, Dalung was not only believed to have encouraged Giwa’s return.

    “He is reported to have facilitated the resurrection of the leadership feud within the NFF, which undermines the great successes of the Amaju Pinnick-led NFF on the nation’s towering football engagements,’’ he said.

    According to Clark, in the overall interest of the future of football, and for Nigeria to maintain its position as the largest country in Africa, the Ministry of Sports is not the place for the likes of Mr Dalung.

    He noted that given Nigeria’s present status, disloyalty, indiscipline, arrogance and mediocrity should not be condoned in any area of public service.

    “The legal profession which I have cherished and belong to investigate all my adult life cannot be ridiculed by certain persons who are bereft of character and honour required of public officers.

    “One should expect that the minister should strive to see how permanent peace will be restored to Nigerian Football administration, particularly now that he has set up a reconciliation committee.

    “He should not be personifying the disagreement within the NFF, but seek out of court settlement in Jos High Court, where the Supreme Court referred the matter to.

    “The Supreme Court did not give any definite judgment in favour of anybody and therefore, it was very improper of the minister to drag in the Supreme Court in his offensive statement.

    “It must be emphasised that, the unity of Nigeria is very paramount, and football is one of the contributory factors to this unity,’’ he said.

    Clark said “as an elder statesman of 91, an incurable football enthusiast, and having remained so since my youth, and my days as a student in England, I was a strong supporter of Manchester United, until I returned to Nigeria in 1965.

    “I continued to show my interest in football and other sporting activities from primary to secondary school levels when I was appointed Commissioner for Education in the old Midwest State.

    “Then, football and other sporting activities were domiciled in the Youth Directorate which was directly under my supervision as Commissioner for Education.

    “It was our policy then to develop football and other sporting activities and our footballers and athletes excelled in all competitions.

    “In order to develop sporting activities, therefore, the School of Physical Education was established at Afuze, now Michael Imoudu College of Physical Education, Afuze in the then Owan Division, now Owan Local Government Area of Edo.

    “This is what I expected a Sports Minister who knows his onions to concentrate on.

    NAN

  • NFF crisis: Dalung insists on Supreme Court judgement, says Osinbajo’s intervention temporary

    NFF crisis: Dalung insists on Supreme Court judgement, says Osinbajo’s intervention temporary

    Nigeria’s Minister for Sports, Solomon Dalung, has reacted to the intervention of the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo which saved Nigeria from being suspended by FIFA on Monday.

    FIFA had threatened to suspend Nigeria from all her activities after the Amaju Pinnick-led executive board was prevented from carrying out its duties at the NFF.

    However, the sanction was averted after Osinbajo, in a letter to the world football governing body, declared the government’s support for the Pinnick-led board.

    But Dalung, in a press statement on Tuesday, has said the issue cannot be resolved with short-term measures, insisting that the matter has a subsisting judgement of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

    “This crisis cannot be solved with a temporary measure or scratched on the surface. The intervention of the Vice President should not be viewed as different from an attempt to abate an escalating situation.

    “As a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, who took oath of office to protect and defend the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I will prefer to stand with the Rule of Law instead of the opinion of men.

    “I want to appeal to Nigerians to remain calm and give support to the NFF Elders Stakeholders Reconciliation Committee which is made up of reputable past presidents and General Secretaries of the NFF with vast knowledge, experience and competence to resolve this crisis once and for all.

    “We are a constitutional democracy and the doctrine of separation of powers is the foundation of democratic experience, therefore, the Rule of Law is the only mechanism that guarantees liberty and freedom of citizens.

    “This administration was elected on the change mantra meaning that impunity has no accommodation anywhere, so Nigerians must learn to believe and practice the doctrine of the Rule of Law. I believe we shall overcome this if we remain within the confines and dictates of the laws of our country.

    “As we celebrate Sallah, let’s remain law-abiding citizens,” Dalung said.