NFF crisis: Battle shifts to July 27 Congress As Pinnick's Loyalists Turn Back on him

Pinnick’s group lobbies FA chairmen to shun Congress We’ll get quorum, NFF .. Pinnick's Loyalists Turn Back on him By Admin The fight for the soul of Nigerian football between Amaju Pinnick and NFF president Ambassador Chris Giwa will take a defining turn on July 27 when the Congress of the Nigeria Football Federation called by the latter takes place, BSN Sports reports. The NFF rose from a meeting on Tuesday at the NFF secretariat, announcing the staging of the Congress, the highest decision-making body of the federation on July 27. Our correspondent learnt that top on the agenda of the Congress would be the ratification of the activities of the Giwa’s group as the legitimate board of the NFF as well as the denouncement of the Pinnick’s executive committee. However, an investigation conducted by BSN Sports revealed that there had been frantic efforts from Pinnick’s board to frustrate the hosting of the Congress. A source close to the federation reliably told our correspondent that the First Vice President of the Confederation of African Football had reached out to many State FA Chairmen and their secretaries to disregard the call for Congress. “There have been some high level lobby and even inducement of Congressmen going on from the two camps,” the source reliably informed our correspondent. “The two camps are involved in this intense lobbies because they know the importance of the Congress, any decision taken at this meeting could determine the future of the fight. “Pinnick and his men want those people loyal to them to shun the invitation and there would be a reasonable number of them that would not come, I can confirm that.” Our correspondent learnt that the ranks of the Congress had been broken since Russia 2018 World Cup with many who were believed to be loyal to Pinnick turning their back on him at this crucial moment. “Many of them have not forgiven Pinnick with the way he treated them at the last World Cup. Most of them were locked out of their hotel rooms due to non-payment and they had to protest before they forced the boss to pay their estacodes. Although they were settled eventually, many are yet to forget and forgive him for that unfortunate episode,” another source said. However, a source in Giwa’s side revealed that they were working hard to ensure chairmen and their secretaries attend the Congress. “We are going to shock these people; you will be amazed at how many of these chairmen that have abandoned Pinnick with the number of them that will attend. I can assure you that we are going to at least form a quorum,” he said. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, has refuted claims circulating on various WhatsApp platforms in Nigeria that the crisis rocking Nigeria football administration has been amicably settled. Yesterday (Wednesday), there were series of information stating that the presidency ‘has ordered the Chief Justice of the Federation to vacate all court cases (relating to the NFF) “. In a WhatsApp message sent to www.bsnsports.com.ng, the minister responds thus: “Following recent post on different social media platforms that the presidency has ordered the Chief Justice of the Federation to vacate all courts cases. “President Muhammadu Buhari has travelled since Sunday and as at the time of filling this report he has not returned. “Also, the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, is not in the country while the Minister of Youth and Sports is in Algiers for the African Youth Games. “In this light, the general public should not believe in all the unfounded stories which are expected to fly around particularly in a time like this. “Those spreading the rumour are the real enemies of Nigeria football, they are doing it for their selfish gains and they are bent on doing everything possible to satisfy their pay masters. “There is no meeting whatsoever in Nigeria that ended up reaching the agreement on sales of forms, peace treaty and order from the presidency that the chief Justice of Federation should vacate all courts cases.”