Confusion lingers in NFF as Giwa resumes, recalls Keshi

The leadership crisis in the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) took a turn for the worse on Thursday, as Chris Giwa took charge of the Glass House, the NFF headquarters in Abuja, in accordance with the order of the Jos High Court that nullified the election of the NFF board led by Amaju Pinnick as president.

Pinnick has filed for a stay of execution order, which will be heard in court on Wednesday in Jos.

The Giwa-led board met after the court pronouncement on Thursday and took far-reaching decisions, among which was recalling sacked Stephen Keshi as Super Eagles coach.

A member of the Giwa board, Yahaya Adamu, told newsmen in Abuja on Friday that the board has returned to power as demanded by the court.

Justice Ambrose Alagoa of the Federal High Cour, Jos, had on Thursday annulled the September 30 NFF elections in Warri, Delta State, that gave rise to Pinnixk’s board. He had also declared as null and void the NFF Elective Congress held on that day, thereby reinstating the Giwa-led board, which was elected in Abuja on August 26.

Adama, who was at the Glass House in company of another board member, Sani Fema, to await the board chairman, said the board had discussed emerging issues affecting Nigerian football.

“The board consequently reviewed a number of decisions taken in recent days at the NFF, one of them being the issue of the Super Eagles’ technical crew.

“Also, the board nullified all decisions taken by the Pinnick-led team since September 30. All committees appointed by the illegal board have been dissolved,’’ he said.

Adama added that the board felt “so strongly about sustaining the out-of-contract assignment given to the Stephen Keshi-led Super Eagles technical crew.

“This is a very critical moment, and Nigerians want the national team to play well, win and be a pride to them. This calls for greater hard WORK from the coaches.

“They (the team) must win the remaining qualifying matches against Congo Republic and South Africa for Nigeria to be at the 2015 African Cup of Nations finals.

“Emphasis now is supposed to be on concentration for the two GAMES,’’ he said.

The NFA board member said the board has made interim appointments into four committees in view of the short time available for the 2013/2014 season to end.

“The Match Commissioners’ Appointments Committee has Adama Yahaya as cshairman, Patimidi Tukuru, Prof. Abu Mallam and Donatus Mbaezue as members, and Emmanuel Adesanya as secretary.

“The Referees Committee has Suleiman Muazu as chairman, Sunday Audu, Ahmed Maude and Chidi Offor as members, and Sunday Okayi as secretary.

“The Disciplinary Committee has Iyke Igbokwe as chairman, Abdulkareem Ibrahim and Andrew Abah as members, and Lawrence Katken as secretary, while Appeals Committee has Leye Adepoju as chairman, Godwin Odekina and Ray Nnaji as members, and Okey Obi as secretary,’’ he said.

The court has set Wednesday, October 29, 2014 for hearing of the stay of execution order.

On Thursday, there was apprehension across the nation that the country could be in for severe sanctions from world football governing body, FIFA, which had issued a stern warning earlier that it would not take kindly to any interference with the NFF’s electoral process.

FIFA has also made it clear that any interference from any third parties in the NFF’s administrative process would lead to an automatic ban that would not be revisited until its 65th Congress SCHEDULED for Zurich, Switzerland, on May 29, 2015.

For full story see: Dailyindependent