You're Not Legitimate NFF Exco Members and Lack the Power to Organise Congress..Perm Sec Tells Amaju Pinnick Board

By Admin The Edo state capital of Benin will be agog with football administrators starting from August 1 as its play host to a two-day emergency congress of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Basic Sports in Nigeria (BSN ports) reports. The congress is being organized by the Edo State Football Association in collaboration with the state government according to a statement in Benin by Mr. Frank Ilaboya Ilaboya said that the meeting will also have in attendance stakeholders in football administration including the Nigeria Professional Football League, (NPEL) Nigeria National League (NNL), the Nigeria Nationwide League (NNWL). Others expected at the meeting are the Nigeria Referee Association (NRA), Nigeria Coaches Association (NCA) among other stakeholders. The statement added that the hosting of the 88 statutory delegates to the stakeholders meeting besides justifying Governor Godwin Obaseki administration’s huge investment in sports development, typifies the acceptance of the leadership role in sports circles. The meeting is a confirmation of the philosophy of the Obaseki administration that sports, if properly harnessed is a major contributor to the socio-economic development of any society. He said: “This bears an eternal testimony to the strategic leadership qualities of the Edo State Governor and the strengthening of the state’s position as leader in sports development across Nigeria. “Edo people appreciate the development brought about by the special focus on investment in sports which is today transforming the lives of youths and thereby boosting the social and economic life of the people. “The multiple impacts of this hosting is unquantifiable; its impacts on Benin City and the State’s economy will be felt in many positive ways.” Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development has issued a statement warning the purported football stake holders invited and all NFF staff not to attend the congress. According to the letter, Mr Amaju Pinnick and all other persons invited as executive NFF members to stop parading themselves as legitimate executive committee of the NFF fortwith because the election that empowered them to do so has been set aside by the order of the High Court. "It reads in full: “I am to refer your office to the suit number FHC/3/CS/177/2014 pending before the Federal High Court Jos and the subsisting enrolled order from the same court giving recognition to Ambassador Chris Giwa as the Nigeria Football Federation President and restraining Mr Amaju Pinnick and all persons who were purportedly elected as member of the Executive Committee of NFF on 30th September 2014 from parading themselves as legitimate Executive of the NFF forthwith, their said election having been set aside by the Order of court. The Order has not been set aside. “it is for the aforesaid that I am constrained to honour your invitation to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Extraordinary General Congress to be held in Benin on the 2nd August 2018. “It is further to be noted that the steps presently taken by your office would amount to an affront on the Orders of court and prejudiced to the suit presently constituted before the Federal High Court Jos. “Accordingly, the matters proposed to be discussed at the said Congress would be subjudice to the proceeding of the court. You are therefore advised to suspend any action in the holding of the Congress.