Amaju Pinnick has said his sack as president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), describing it as “null and void”.
Recall that the Minister for Youths and Sports in Nigeria, Solomon
Dalung on Monday ordered the current NFF board to vacate their office,
in respect to a ruling by the apex court in Nigeria, the Supreme Court.
Dalung also asked Chris Giwa, who was voted as President of the NFF
through a congress that wasn’t recognized by FIFA, to take over the
running of the Glass House.
However, in a statement signed by the counsel to Pinnick, Festus
Keyamo and made available to DAILY POST, the embattled NFF boss gave
reasons why the ruling cannot stand.
It reads:
“We are solicitors to Mr. Amaju Pinnick and the
present Board of the NFF which he heads. We issue this statement on the
instruction and directive of our clients which reflects their official
position on the matter.
“The attention of our clients has been drawn to a statement
purportedly issued at the behest of the Minister of Sports, Mr. Solomon
Dalung, directing the NFF to comply with certain court orders effecting a
change of leadership in the NFF.
“Our clients wish to alert the general public and the
authorities in Nigeria that the so-called directive by the Minister of
Sports is null, void and of no effect for the following reasons.
“(1) Whilst our clients respect the sanctity of court orders,
unfortunately the said court orders are not binding on FIFA, the World
Football Governing Body. The NFF is an affiliate of FIFA. It should be
noted that FIFA has consistently maintained that this same matter has
been taken to the highest Court of Sports Arbitration in Switzerland by
these same individuals and they have lost. FIFA is only bound by the
decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sports AND DOES NOT ENTERTAIN
OR TOLERATE decisions by local courts in footballing nations worldwide.
Hence, FIFA has since upheld the decision of the Court of Arbitration on
this matter and recognized the NFF Board led by Amaju Pinnick. Nigeria
has a duty to comply with that decision. In addition, for the
indiscretion of those individuals like Chris Giwa to approach the local
courts, FIFA has since imposed a worldwide ban on them from all
footballing activities.
“The end result is that Chris Giwa and his so-called Board
members do not have any locus standi with regards to footballing matters
and the Federal Government CANNOT have any dealing with them on any
footballing matter. The obvious implication of all these is that if any
attempt is made to recognize Chris Giwa and derecognize Amaju Pinnick
and his Board, FIFA WILL DEFINITELY IMPOSE A LENGTHY BAN ON NIGERIA from
all football competitions locally and internationally and that will
spell doom for Nigerian Football.
“The immediate casualties of this ban would be (a) The
Falconets who have qualified and are scheduled to participate in the
Under-20 Female World Cup in July, 2018 (b) The final phases of the
AFCON Qualifiers for the Super Eagles scheduled for August/September,
2018 (c) The Super Falcons defending their title in December in Ghana
(d) No Nigerian Club side would be allowed to participate in the
Continental Championships and (e) the future of all Nigerian players
based in Nigeria would be in jeopardy as no Nigerian player would be
allowed to be sold or transferred to any club anywhere in the world.
“Please, find attached the latest letter from FIFA to Chris
Giwa, through his lawyers confirming the position of FIFA on this
matter.
“(2) In view of these facts above, our clients have taken steps
to vacate the orders given by the Federal High Court in Jos. It should
be noted that the said orders were given ex-parte (one-sided), as no
other person was served with court processes. It should also be noted
that the orders were given against Amaju Pinnick and his Board members
(who are not parties to the case and were never served) and in favour of
Chris Giwa (who is also not a party to the case). Besides, these orders
are to last for only fourteen (14) days as provided by the Rules of
Court. Our clients state these facts as they are in order to inform the
public of the nature of the orders given without meaning to denigrate
the authority of the court.
(3) The Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami,
SAN, a few weeks ago, having studied the Supreme Court judgment has
already advised (by a letter dated 13th June, 2018) that the matter is
subjudice, and that Government cannot intervene at this point. He
advised all parties to await the FINAL DETERMINATION of the case.
However, in a desperate attempt to assume office at all cost, Chris Giwa
sneaked back to court to obtain these ex-parte (one-sided) orders
prompting the office of the Attorney-General to issue yet another advice
again dated June 26, 2018, advising compliance to the court order.
“(4) Finally, our clients also urge restraint and caution
because the substantive matter is pending in court and has not been
fully determined. Our clients have also taken steps to set aside these
orders. Therefore, it is important that the Government awaits the full
and final determination of the entire matter. It may be the contention
of Chris Giwa and his so-called Board that the Rule of Law must be
obeyed which means an immediate enforcement of the one-sided (ex-parte)
orders. However, Nigeria is also bound to abide, recognize and enforce
the decisions of the Courts of Arbitration for Sports which have since
dismissed the case of Chris Giwa and his so-called Board, and affirmed
Amaju Pinnick and his Board as the authentic leadership of the NFF.
“Our clients are therefore VERY SHOCKED that despite these
glaring question marks, the Minister of Sports refused to advise
Government correctly as to the position of FIFA on this matter and the
existence of an Award against Chris Giwa and his so-called Board by the
Court of Arbitration for Sports. The Press Release by the Minister of
Sports would definitely cripple football in Nigeria and make Nigeria a
pariah State regarding football. Our clients do not, by this letter,
want to give credence or promote so many insinuations, peddled about, as
motivating the actions of the Minister of Sports. Our clients only urge
the President and Commander-in-Chief, President Muhammadu Buhari to
urgently reverse the position of the Minister of Sports and save
Nigerian Football from collapse.
“As a result of the CLEAR AND UNEQUIVOCAL position of FIFA on
this issue, our clients urge the President to INSTRUCT the Minister of
Sports to engage strong legal representation to challenge these court
orders that were given without hearing from anyone or joining anyone on
the other side (including the Minister of Sports).
“Whilst this is being done, our clients urge the President to
direct all parties and law enforcement agencies to await a full
determination of the case before doing anything in this regard as a
result of the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sports which is
also enforceable in Nigeria.
“The final point to make is that our clients wish to draw the
attention of everyone to the fact that the NFF is not an independent
association. It is an affiliate of FIFA. By virtue of Article 59,
Paragraphs 2 and 3 of FIFA Statutes, FIFA does not tolerate such actions
taken by Giwa and his so-called Board to destroy Nigerian football.
“Therefore, by virtue of the responsible position Nigeria holds
in the Comity of Nations, it would be advisable that the President
directs everyone to toe the line of FIFA and respect the final decision
of the Court of Arbitration for Sports on this matter, instead of giving
vent to the ambition of ONE MAN (Chris Giwa) who wants to bring down
the entire edifice of football on all our heads to achieve his selfish
ambition.”