PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Nigeria averts FIFA ban, recognizes FIFA-backed Amaju Pinnick as authentic NFF President
Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) - Apparently acting to avert an international ban on football-related activities by the World Football Governing Body, FIFA, Nigeria on Monday conveyed a letter to FIFA recognising the Amaju Pinnick-led Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) as the substantive board of the Nigerian federation.
FIFA set a deadline of Monday, 20 August, 2018, within which Nigeria should resolve the power tussle between Pinnick, the NFF president it recognizes, and the Chris Giwa-led federation, or face an international ban.
According to Laolu Akande, the Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, on Monday said the Federal Government has recognized the Pinnick-led federation as the current and only executive committee.
Akande, who tweeted this on his tweeter account, said that the Federal Government will continue with all relevant stakeholder to resolve dispute in a timely manner.
According to him, the Federal Government is upholding NFF treaty obligations to FIFA.
PANA recalls that the Chris Giwa-led NFF assumed office on 2 July, following a court order that validated his election and nullified that of Pinnick.
However, on 23 July, the Giwa-led board was sacked by security operatives following a presidential directive.
In a statement from its Zurich, Switzerland, headquarters, the Bureau of the FIFA Council, citing undue influence in the affairs of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Ghana Football Association (GFA), gave the two West African countries deadlines to correct the anomalies or face suspension.
In a press release issued by FIFA, posted on its website, football's governing body said, "In line with art. 16 par. 1 of the FIFA Statutes, the Bureau of the FIFA Council decided that if by Monday, 20 August, 2018, at 12:00 (CET), the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) offices are not handed back to the legitimate NFF executive committee under President Amaju Melvin Pinnick, who was duly elected on 30 September 2014, the NFF will be suspended with immediate effect for contravening art. 14 par. 1 i) and art. 19, as well as art. 14 par. 1 a) of the FIFA Statutes."
It said the suspension would be lifted only once the NFF, under President Amaju Melvin Pinnick and General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi, confirms that it has been given back effective control of the NFF and its offices.
-0- PANA VAO 20Aug2018
FIFA set a deadline of Monday, 20 August, 2018, within which Nigeria should resolve the power tussle between Pinnick, the NFF president it recognizes, and the Chris Giwa-led federation, or face an international ban.
According to Laolu Akande, the Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, on Monday said the Federal Government has recognized the Pinnick-led federation as the current and only executive committee.
Akande, who tweeted this on his tweeter account, said that the Federal Government will continue with all relevant stakeholder to resolve dispute in a timely manner.
According to him, the Federal Government is upholding NFF treaty obligations to FIFA.
PANA recalls that the Chris Giwa-led NFF assumed office on 2 July, following a court order that validated his election and nullified that of Pinnick.
However, on 23 July, the Giwa-led board was sacked by security operatives following a presidential directive.
In a statement from its Zurich, Switzerland, headquarters, the Bureau of the FIFA Council, citing undue influence in the affairs of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Ghana Football Association (GFA), gave the two West African countries deadlines to correct the anomalies or face suspension.
In a press release issued by FIFA, posted on its website, football's governing body said, "In line with art. 16 par. 1 of the FIFA Statutes, the Bureau of the FIFA Council decided that if by Monday, 20 August, 2018, at 12:00 (CET), the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) offices are not handed back to the legitimate NFF executive committee under President Amaju Melvin Pinnick, who was duly elected on 30 September 2014, the NFF will be suspended with immediate effect for contravening art. 14 par. 1 i) and art. 19, as well as art. 14 par. 1 a) of the FIFA Statutes."
It said the suspension would be lifted only once the NFF, under President Amaju Melvin Pinnick and General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi, confirms that it has been given back effective control of the NFF and its offices.
-0- PANA VAO 20Aug2018
