Vacation Of Court Order, Not In Our Hands - NFF

Vacation Of Court Order, Not In Our Hands - NFF

By Niyi Busari

General Secretary of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Mohammed Sanusi, has denied the report that they are reluctant to vacate the court exparte order stopping the federation from holding Congress.

An Bayelsa High Court in 2021 stopped the federation from holding any congress. The Claimant, Seigha Obiene, a board member of Nembe City Football Club dragged the NFF to court over illegal composition of the Federation board. He insisted that against the statute, some persons who are not eligible to vote in the 2015 and 2018 NFF elections voted and are also illegally occupied their present position as Board members.

The court then stopped the federation from holding Congress and on January 10, 2022 advised the defendants to apply a 'out of court settlement'.

With the elections coming up in September, 28 State Football Association chairmen wrote a notice to the Secretariat to do everything within their power to settle the case so that the Elective Congress could hold. 

Reacting, Sanusi confirmed receiving letter from the Chairmen but stated that there was no threat of mandate withdrawal in the letter. He added that the Federation lacked the power to vacate the ex-parte order and on their part engaged the services of A.U Mustapha chamber to represent the Federation in court.

"Yes, we received the letter but there is nothing like passing vote of no confidence on the board. They said we should do everything to make sure that NFF elections in September is held." Sanusi told BSN Sports

"We cannot hold Congress because of contempt of court and elections cannot hold without Congress. And it is when we hold Congress that we can plan for elections.

"There are legal processes to be followed for the Congress to be held and we will do everything legally in making sure that the Congress holds."