By Mark Baber
September 11 – An attempt by the Chris Giwa-faction in Nigeria’s Football Federation (NFF) to hang on to power by appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) for a restraint order against FIFA fell at the first hurdle this week.
Members of Giwa’s faction, including FA Chirment Yahaya Adama, Obinna Ogba, Musa Talle, Effiong Johnson, Chidi Ofor Okenwa, Busari Ishola, Mohhammed Saidu and Tijani Jubril filed an appeal for an interim order at CAS against the FIFA Emergency Committee’s decision of 3 September 2014 that it would suspend the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in the event that persons claiming to be elected and occupying the offices of the NFF had failed to vacate their offices at the NFF by 8 September 2014.”
Chris Giwa regarded himself as the legitimate elected President of the NFF after his faction elected him in a highly disputed snap election held whilst the previous President, Aminu Maigari, was under arrest and many of the NFF delegates were reportedly being attacked by police with tear gas.
According to CAS’s statement: “FIFA later noted that two cumulative conditions mentioned in the Emergency Committee’s decision dated 3 September 2014 had been complied with and that therefore the NFF would not be suspended. In light of the foregoing, the Appellants’ request for provisional measures was rejected by CAS since it was without object at this stage.
Accordingly, the NFF is not suspended and the African Nations Cup qualifier match between South Africa and Nigeria scheduled to take place on 10 September 2014 is not affected. “
The African Nations Cup qualifier went ahead yesterday evening with the game ending in a 0-0 draw.
Meanwhile, Minister of Sports, Dr Tammy Danagogo has advised both Maigari and Giwa to stay away from the NFF HQ until matters are fully resolved telling reporters: “We ask all parties, Maigari, Giwa and everybody involved in this crisis to steer clear of that place (Glass House) so that we can amicably resolve this issue.
“I don’t want them to go there to fight,” he added, ” and it will be in the best interest of everybody involved to maintain the peace we have achieved up till this moment.”
Maigari who had been back to the NFF HQ and worked on some files said: “He (minister) did not tell me anything. But I just received a call now telling me to leave the office, which I have to comply with and honour the invitation. I am not here to resume fully but for interim measure and even without anybody’s intervention I did not come here to stay. I know I must leave here. We are in the process of completing our tenure and a new board will be in place very soon to take over the running of the Federation.”
According to Maigari, who clearly would like an end to the whole affair, which has seen him arrested twice, an executive committee of the NFF will meet and discuss a directive on a fresh election, “The executive committee will sit down and decide a date for election. There are procedures to follow. I personally can’t propose a date for the election. I want to believe that we will do this within the shortest possible time.”
The chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Sports, Honourable Godfrey Ali Gaiya is reported to have threatened Giwa, who has been conspicuous by his absence since Monday, with arrest if he makes any attempt to put into practice his claim to be the duly elected President.
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