BREAKING: FG Orders Pinnick To Vacate NFF, Recognises Amb. Chris Giwa As President
The Federal Government has directed the Amaju Pinnick-led Nigeria Football Federation to comply forthwith with the Jos High Court order of September 19 and 23, 2014 that was recently restored by the Supreme Court recognising the leadership of Ambassador Chris Giwa.
The directive issued by the office of the Attorney General through the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development also directed all security agencies, the Inspector General of Police to ensure full compliance of the order of court.
Recall that the Supreme Court in a judgement delivered on April 27, 2018, relisted the orders of the Jos Federal High Court, which in 2014 sets aside the purported election into the Executive Committee of the NFF held on September 30, 2014
Barrister Solomon Dalung, Minister of Youth and Sports Development, today in a statement, said as a party in the case, he does not want to be imprisoned for non-compliance.
The directive he said; followed a written notification signed by the Attorney-General f the Federation and Minister of Justice requesting the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports to ensure compliance.
The notification read: “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.”
Consequently, Dalung directed all parties involved to comply with the court order.
He said : “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.
“The order 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.”
