NAN Archive

Loading

NAN Archive

Tag NFF

Sport

Kwara FA inaugurates Electoral, Appeal Committees

Inauguration
By Olayinka Owolewa
Ilorin, Jan. 8, 2019 (NAN) The Kwara Football Association on Tuesday in Ilorin inaugurated Electoral and Appeal Committees for its forthcoming board elections.

While inaugurating the two committees, Chairman of the FA, Busari Ishola, charged them to organise credible elections which would usher in new board members before the end of February.

He said members of the committees were carefully chosen based on their integrity and connections to football.

“All guidelines set up by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) were followed in the processes leading to the formation of the committees,’’ Ishola added.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the five-man Electoral Committee has as its chairman a one-time Chairman of Kwara FA, Saliu Ojibara.

The other members are Olayiwola Ayinde, Abdulwaheed Bibire who is the State Chairman of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Sulaiman Warah and a former Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Anthony Towoju.

Emmanuel Obafemi is Chairman of the three-man Appeal Committee, which also has Serah Esan, a former Director of Sports in the state, and Prof. Gafar Ijaiya of the University of Ilorin.

The Secretary of the FA, Taofeek Ahmed, will serve as Secretary to the two committees.

Ojibara, while speaking on behalf of his committee, commended the FA, saying the general concern was to take Kwara football to greater heights.

Also, Obafemi assured that the committee would give its best in carrying out the assignment.(NAN)
OOH/OSA/OLAL
==============

(Edited by Shittu Obassa and Olawale Alabi)

 

Sport

Ebonyi has good facilities to host national teams’ matches, state govt. official says

Matches
By Chukwuemeka Opara
Abakaliki, Nov. 10, 2018 (NAN) Ebonyi is ready to host matches involving the national teams as well as other competitions because it has the facilities to host such events, a state government official said on Saturday.

Charlse Akpuenika, the state’s Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, said the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and other sports bodies should look the state’s way when taking decisions on hosting events.

“The facilities at the Pa Ngele Oruta Stadium are of international standard and the fans are very passionate about football and other sports events,’’ he told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abakaliki.

“The players and officials who participated in the just-ended South-East/South-South Pre-Season Football Challenge gave eloquent testimonies about facilities at the stadium and we wish to draw NFF’s attention to this fact.

“We appeal to the Amaju Pinnick-led NFF to organise some of its engagements in the state and not concentrate on having most of national teams’ matches in one geo-political zone,” he added.

The commissioner urged the NFF to recall that a letter was sent to it by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) some time ago, asking it to come and inspect facilities at the stadium.

“We are eagerly waiting for NFF’s response on the invitation as we have better facilities than the stadiums which host national teams’ matches and other national sports competitions.

“The state government spent millions of Naira to renovate the stadium and other sports facilities in the state and we intend to put these facilities into good use.

“Facilities at the stadium have been upgraded and they include a good pitch, 500 KVA and 350 KVA stand-by generators for steady power supply, regular water supply, exquisite VIP stand, among others,” he said.

Akpuenika added that it was a blessing for the state to have produced the Senate Committee Chairman on Sports, Obinna Ogba.

He said the state was hopeful his influence would help to attract such matches and competitions to the state.

Patrick Ngwaogu, Coordinator of the South-East/South-South Pre-Season Football Challenge, supported Akpuenika’s contention, saying the stadium could host any competition.

“The stadium can host any type of tournament or competition, and I am confident that competitions such as the one we organised would let the world know that such a stadium exists in Abakaliki.

“Hosting of competitions in the stadium will also eliminate the apathy displayed by fans during the competition we hosted. That was one of our findings during the competition,” he said.

Adenrele Moses, the coach of Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia, one of the participants in the competition, described the Pa Ngele Oruta Stadium as impressive.

He urged the NFF to take steps to organise competitions in the stadium.

“I shouted when I first visited the stadium, because I was amazed by the state of facilities on ground.

“In fact, I feel that Ebonyi should float football clubs which would play their home matches at the stadium, so as to help draw the world’s attention to the opportunities the stadium provides,” the coach said.

NAN reports that Cynosure FC of Abakaliki defeated Abia Warriors 1-0 to win the pre-season competition.(NAN)
RCO/OLAL
=========
(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Sport

Court orders Nasarawa State Govt. to deposit N182.5m award in interest-yielding account before appealing judgment

Order
By Thompson Yamput
Jos, Oct. 30, 2018 (NAN) The National Industrial Court (NIC) in Jos on Tuesday ordered the Nasarawa State Government and Nasarawa United Football Club of Lafia to deposit N182.5 million in an interest-yielding account.

Justice Kenneth Amadi ordered both parties to deposit the amount in an interest-yielding account before they could file an appeal against its judgment.

The amount, N182,544,000, is the total sum the management of the state government-owned club is owing five former coaches and 37 players, being their unpaid salaries and sign-on fees.

The court, which heard the suit of the claimants, delivered judgment on April 16 and ordered the government to pay on or before April 30, 2018.

However, when the state government sought leave of court for a stay of execution of the April 16 judgment, Justice Amadi ordered it to deposit the amount in an account.

“Before a stay on the matter could be heard, the money (N182.5m) must first be lodged in an interest-yielding account.

“You (the Nasarawa State Government) must bring the money here. When you go and lose at the appellate court, the awardees will take the money. But, if you win, we shall give it back to you,’’ the judge stated.

Amadi then gave the state government up till Nov. 19 to bring or present the cheque of the said money to the court before its motion could be heard.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Messrs Paul Hammache and A.G.Yirvoms, counsel to the coaches and players respectively, had challenged the Nasarawa state government’s application.

The state government had applied to move a motion for a stay of judgment as it intends to appeal.

“By the rules of this court, the Judgement Debtor/Applicant can’t move any motion or be heard until and unless the amount awarded is lodged in an interest-yielding account of the court.

“That is the rule and they must do that first, before the court can hear them as it relates to the judgment and award to the coaches and players,’’ Yirvoms argued.

The judge, who agreed with Yirvoms, however adjourned the case to Nov. 19.

This was for the applicant to lodge in the account the money and hear the motion filed by the state government for stay of execution of the judgment before its appeal.

NAN reports that the coaches and players had separately sued the state government and the club over their failure to pay their entitlements amounting to N182.5 million since 2015.

The coaches are Evans Ogenyi, Sylvester Ekoja, Michael Jatau, Bala Nikyu and El-Shammah Inusa.

The coaches, who are now the judgment creditors/respondents along with the players, had differently served as Technical Adviser, assistant coach, chief coach, goalkeeper trainer and chief trainer before being laid off.

They were laid off in 2015, alongside the 37 players.

The two groups had approached the court through their counsel.

In their separate prayers, they urged the court to compel the club and the state government to pay them the entitlements.

This was awarded to them by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Players Status/Arbitration Committee on Oct. 10, 2015.

The club and the government, through their counsel, the state’s Solicitor-General, had objected to the applications and asked the court to strike the suit out.

He had argued that the plaintiffs’ application lacked merit, saying the court also lacked jurisdiction to entertain the suit.

But Justice Amadi, in his judgment, upheld NFF arbitration panel’s earlier submission in the case.

Amadi held that NFF’s judgment was in order and further argued that the court had jurisdiction to adjudicate on the cases by virtue of Section 254 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

“The issues here border on employment and unpaid salaries and other entitlements.

“By the rules of this court and by Section 254 of the Constitution, it has the jurisdiction to adjudicate and to enforce any arbitrary award connected and arising from such disputes relating to non-payment of salaries, which is its exclusive right.

“The applications filed by the state government and Nasarawa United FC have therefore failed, and I hereby adopt the NFF Players Status/Arbitration Committee’s Award as the judgment of this court.

“I hereby order the respondents (Nasarawa state government and Nassarawa United FC) to pay all the awardees their entitlements in fulfillment of the award on or before April 30, 2018.

“In the light of this, the applicants have been granted leave to enforce this judgment from this date,’’ the judge held.(NAN)
TYC/AOS/OLAL
==============

(Edited by Bayo Sekoni and Olawale Alabi)

 

Sport

FIFA remembers late Yekini, says USA 94 celebration will live on in World Cup folklore

Remembrance
Abuja, Oct. 23, 2018 (NAN) World football governing body FIFA and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Tuesday took to Twitter to pay post-humous respect  to late former Super Eagles striker Rashidi Yekini.

Yekini, who would have clocked 55 on Tuesday, was until his death Nigeria’s senior national football team highest goal scorer with 37 goals — a record yet unmatched.

Yekini scored Nigeria’s first-ever FIFA World Cup goal at the 1994 tournament in the U.S. and followed it up with a remarkable celebration.

And, FIFA, in a tweet via its official Twitter World Cup handle (@FIFAWorldCup), acknowledged that historic celebration, saying it would live on in World Cup folklore.

“Rashidi Yekini, scorer of @NGSuperEagles’ first goal at the #WorldCup, would have been 55 today. The celebration from Nigeria’s record goal-scorer will live on in World Cup folklore,” FIFA tweeted.

On its part, the NFF referred to the late Yekini as “Yeking of goals”, stating that power, pace and precision were the hallmarks of the late striker’s game.

“Posthumous birthday shout-out to our legend, ‘Yeking of goals’, late Rashidi Yekini. Power, pace and precision best describe Yekini on the pitch.

“The big man would have been 55 today. He remains the all-time top scorer of the @NGSuperEagles with 37 goals. Rest on legend!” the NFF tweeted, with two wine bottle emojis via @thenff.

The late Yekini was born in Kaduna on Oct. 23, 1963 and died in Ibadan, Oyo State on May 4, 2012.

A former African Footballer of the Year, Yekini’s professional career spanned over two decades.

He was the highest goal scorer at the 1994 African Cup of Nations in Tunisia, which Nigeria won.

The striker who played for clubs such as the then IICC Shooting Stars and defunct Abiola Babes FC went on to represent Nigeria at the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cups. (NAN)
KIA/OLAL
=========

(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Sport

NFF Elective Congress: Pinnick pledges to reconcile with losers

NFF Elective Congress: Pinnick pledges to reconcile with losers
BY Zubairu Idris
Reconciliation
Katsina, Sept. 20, 2018 (NAN) The President, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Mr Amaju Pinnick, has pledged to reconcile with those who lost at the 2018 NFF Elective Congress held in Katsina on Thursday.
Pinnick was speaking after the announcement of election results by the Chairman, NFF Electoral Committee, Mr Mohammed Sani-Katu.
He said that there was no winner, no vanquish during the election, hence the need for all to come and join hands to fulfill their promises and make a progress.
The NFF president thanked all those who contributed to the success of the exercise in one way or the other.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Pinnick scored 34 votes to beat other contestants.
Aminu Maigari polled eight votes to emerge second, Taiwo Ogunjobi got two votes, while Chinedu Okoye had no vote during the election.
Seyi Akinwumi was elected First Vice President and Ibrahim Musa Gusau, Chairman FA Chairmen.
Others elected included Yusuf Ahmed and Suleiman Kwande as board members from North Central; Babagana Kali and Musa Duhu for North East.
Sharif Rabiu was elected unopposed as board member for North West; Emmanuel Eda, South-South; Felix Agu, South East, and Ganiyu Majekodumi, South West.
NAN also reports that 44 delegates cast votes during the peaceful congress. (NAN)
ZI/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Sport

NFF election: No plan to disqualify Pinnick, Maigari—Katu

NFF

By Emmanuel Afonne

Abuja, Sept. 2, 2018 (NAN) Sani Katu, Chairman, Electoral Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has dismissed concerns that the committee has concluded plans to disqualify top contenders in forthcoming election into the NFF Executive Committee.

Katu allayed the fears in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday.

A source who preferred not to be mentioned had told NAN that plans had been concluded to disqualify former NFF President Aminu Maigari and embattled current NFF boss Amaju Pinnick.

The plan according to the anonymous source is to disqualify both contestants during the screening exercise and leave only one candidate Taiwo Ogunjobi knowing that he might not have the support of the congress for the NFF top job.

“After the screening and disqualification of candidates, the electoral committee will open the nomination form for five days to pave way for more people to pick form including Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the League Management Company (LMC).

“Ogunjobi and Dikko may be the only ones in the final race and in the end, the LMC will emerge

“Other popular candidates from the zones may be disqualified also before the final contest,” the source said.

But Katu told NAN that the committee had no plan to disqualify any candidate that met the requirement set in the electoral guideline.

“We are already screening candidates and we will be holding our meeting tomorrow (Monday) to know the next step.

“There is no plan to disqualify anybody that is qualified. We have election guideline that guides us. We asked contestants that want to occupy positions to come and obtain a form and fill it according to the guidelines of the election.

“Once we are satisfied with the requirements, I don’t see any reason one should be disqualified; we intend to screen and find out whether the contestants are qualified, and once they are qualified, they are qualified.

“There is no way we can disqualify somebody that is qualified. We are an independent body and we are not going to do anything that is contrary to the guidelines; it’s very clear,” Katu said.

He however, said that there might be change of activities in the timetable if need be but that would be decided in the committee’s meeting scheduled for Monday.

“We cannot rule out the possibility of change of date based on election phenomena; we published a timeline but anything can happen at any time but for now, we are working with our schedule.”

The NFF electoral committee chairman noted that his members were not perturbed or distracted by the current leadership crisis in the country’s football house.

The timetable for the NFF election showed that intending candidates would buy and return their forms between Aug. 17 and Aug. 24, while screening takes place from Aug. 27 to Aug. 29 with names of candidates to be published on Aug. 30.

Protests and appeals will be heard and treated between Sept. 4 and Sept. 6, after same must have been submitted between Aug. 31 and Sept. 3.

Publication of final list of candidates will be released on Sept. 7 and elections into the NFF Executive Committee for 2018 to 2022 will hold on Sept. (NAN)

EMAF/SH

=======

 

edited by Sadiya Hamza

Judiciary

Chris Giwa faults Keyamo on NFF leadership crisis

Chris Giwa faults Keyamo on NFF leadership crisis

By Emmanuel Afonne

Abuja, Aug. 28, 2018 (NAN) Chris Giwa, factional President, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has faulted a statement credited to a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Festus Keyamo, on the leadership crisis rocking the country’s football.

Mr Habilla Ardzard, Giwa’s lawyer in a statement issued on Tuesday, said that Keyamo misinformed Nigerians on the NFF leadership tussle.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), recalls that Keyamo, lead counsel to Amaju Pinnick, in a statement on Aug. 26, alleged that there was no court order preventing his client from acting as NFF President.

He also said that there was no court order to install Chris Giwa as President of NFF.

According to Keyamo, “There is no Supreme Court order or any other subsisting order restraining Amaju Pinnick from acting as President of the NFF or installing Chris Giwa as president of the NFF.

“We hereby challenge anybody who disputes this to publish the Supreme Court judgment or order where the names of Amaju Pinnick or Chris Giwa were ever mentioned in any portion of the judgment or as even parties to the case.

“The fact is that the court processes filed in the Supreme Court matter do not bear their names as parties to the suit whatsoever,” he added.

Ardzard, however, dismissed Keyamo’s position and clarified that the order was not contingent on any futuristic occurrence and as such, was final.

“The attention of the NFF Executive Committee elected on Aug. 26, 2014 has been drawn to a press statement issued on Aug. 26, 2018, by the office of Festus Keyamo, SAN counsel to the Amaju Pinnick-led purported board on the current situation of Nigeria football.

“Ordinarily, we could have ignored the press statement, but for the misinformation contained therein and its design to mislead and hoodwink unsuspecting Nigerians into according unmerited credibility to the Amaju Pinnick-led illegal board of the NFF.

“In the press statement, Festus Keyamo, SAN sought to mislead Nigerians by alleging that there was no court order preventing Amaju Pinnick from acting as NFF President and installing Chris Giwa in office.

“We wish to clarify that by the order of the Federal High Court made on Oct. 23 2014, the election of Sept. 30, 2014, which purportedly brought Amaju Pinnick to office was nullified. This order was not contingent on any futuristic occurrence and was thus final.

“The application upon which the order was made was not ex-parte, but was on notice and in its judgment delivered on April 27, 2018, the Supreme Court gave recognition to this order.

“If the purported election which produced Amaju Pinnick and his group was nullified, can they and their purported board be said to have a legally recognised mandate?

“The Supreme Court had at various times clarified that if something is said to be a nullity, such a thing does not have existence. The foregoing position is anchored on an elementary principle of law that you cannot put something on nothing, and expect it to stand,” Ardzard said

He pointed out that the order of the Federal High Court made on June 5, 2018 in clear terms, restrained Amaju Pinnick and his team from parading themselves as the board of the NFF.

Ardzard also pointed out that the orders of the Federal High Court made on Sept. 19, 2014 and June 5, 2018, gave recognition to the Chris Giwa-led board of the NFF and compelled the government and relevant security agencies in the country to enforce same.

Giwa’s lawyer wondered why Keyamo should try to mislead Nigerians by saying that the names of Chris Giwa and Amaju Pinnick were not mentioned in any of the orders made by the court.

He explained that the suit at the Federal High Court was a representative action instituted on behalf of all members of the NFF board elected on Aug. 26, 2014, including Chris Giwa.

“Similarly, by laying claim to the presidency of the NFF, Amaju Pinnick was taking benefit from the illegal act of the former board of the NFF; this being so, he must also take the corresponding liability associated with the conduct of that same board.

“It is immoral to take benefit of the action of the former board of the NFF and duck the liability that comes with the same conduct.

“Moreover, the name of Amaju Pinnick clearly appears in the order of June 5, 2018 wherein he and his purported board were restrained from parading themselves as the legitimate board of the NFF,”Ardzard said

He urged Keyamo to explain to Nigerians why the Pinnick-led NFF board appealed against the order of the Federal High Court at the Court of Appeal.

“It would be recalled that the order made on April 8, 2016, inter alia relisted the suit, which was withdrawn and struck out on Oct. 30, 2014.

“It therefore defies logic and common sense that the order made to relist a case would be interpreted to mean it confirmed the striking out of the suit.

“The question whether or not the Supreme Court affirmed the restoration of the orders of the Federal High Court nullifying the election that produced Amaju Pinnick and his group and recognising the Chris Giwa-led board is not debatable.

“Both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court being appellate courts do not enforce orders as only the court of first instance can do so.

“Having gotten the orders made by the Federal High Court recognised by the Supreme Court, the Chris Giwa-led board must go back to the Federal High Court being the court of first instance to have those orders enforced.’’

“This was why the Chris Giwa-led board approached the Federal High Court Jos for the enforcement of the orders of June 5, 2018,’’ Ardzard said.  (NAN)

EMAF/OU

======

Edited by Obike Ukoh

======

General news

(Video) NAN News Highlights for Mon., Aug. 20, 2018

1.The National Emergency Management Agency has urged Nigerians to be safety conscious during and after the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

 

The Director-General of the  agency, Mr Mustapha Maihajja, who made the plea in Abuja on Monday, advised parents and guardians to be extra-vigilant while keeping watch over their children and wards.

======

2.The Nigeria Immigration Service has rescued a 23-year-old girl from human traffickers in Katsina State.

The Comptroller of the service in the state, Mr Ajisafe Olusola, said the victim was rescued by its operatives at Kongolam, a border town with Niger Republic after traffickers took her from her parents on the pretense of securing a job for her abroad.

======

3.The National Bureau of Statistics says a total of 509,668,433 transactions valued at N32.90 trillion were recorded in the banking sector during the second quarter.

The bureau stated this in its 2018 second quarter report on “Selected Banking Sector Data: Sectorial Breakdown of Credit, ePayment Channels and Staff Strength released in Abuja.

======

4.The Federal Government has announced its recognition of the Amaju Pinnick-led executive as the authentic leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation.

Laolu Akande, Special Assistant to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, made the announcement on his official Twitter handle on Monday at 11.38 a.m., few minutes before the 12 p.m. deadline given by FIFA for the resolution of the leadership tussle in the Nigerian football governing body.

It said the government had already informed FIFA of the decision.

======

5.Mali’s constitutional court on Monday confirmed President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita’s re-election in a run-off ballot, rejecting fraud accusations by the opposition candidateSoumaila Cisse.

The decision clears the way for Keita to be inaugurated next month for a second five-year term, at a time when Malian authorities are contending with rising violence by jihadist groups and ethnic militia.

Sport

FIFA says Nigeria, Ghana risk being suspended over federation leadership crisis

Warning
By Olayinka Owolewa and Bushrah Yusuf
Ilorin, Aug. 14, 2018 (NAN) World football governing body FIFA on Tuesday said it would go on to suspend Nigeria and Ghana from football activities if they failed to comply with its instructions by Monday.

FIFA, in a statement by its Media Office, said it had been notified about ongoings in the two federations, and it viewed them as “undue interference in their affairs’’.

It said Nigeria must ensure the NFF offices in Abuja are occupied by the Amaju Pinnick faction of the federation’s Congress by Monday.

FIFA however said whatever decision it would take would not affect the Falconets, Nigeria’s under-20 women team, who are currently in France participating in the 2018 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Glass House has been occupied recently at different times by both the Chris Giwa and Pinnick factions of the federation’s Congress

This occupation has however been with the aid of men of the Nigeria Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) at such times.

While Giwa’s occupation was said to be “at the instance of the courts’’, that of Pinnick was said to be “on the orders of Presidency’’.

In the case of Ghana, the country has until Aug. 27 to stop the process of liquidation of the Ghana Football Association.

Below is the full text of FIFA’s statement, unedited:

“Two decisions of the Bureau of the FIFA Council in relation to undue influence in the affairs of the Nigeria Football Federation and the Ghana Football Association have been notified on 13 August 2018.

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.

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.

Furthermore, the Bureau decided that if the suspension of the NFF takes effect, the Nigerian team currently competing in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup France 2018 will still be allowed to continue to participate in the tournament on an exceptional basis given that the tournament is underway.

In Ghana, it is noted that formal investigation proceedings are currently being carried out by the chairperson of the investigatory chamber of the Ethics Committee against Mr Nyantakyi, who has been provisionally suspended by a decision taken by the chairperson of the adjudicatory chamber of the Ethics Committee. However, the Bureau of the Council considers that the petition introduced by the Attorney General to the High Court of Justice to start the liquidation process of the GFA constitutes undue influence in the affairs of the GFA in contravention of art. 14 par. 1 i) and art. 19 par. 1 of the FIFA Statutes.

Under these circumstances, the Bureau decided that if the petition to start the liquidation process of the GFA is not withdrawn by Monday, 27 August 2018 at 12:00 (CET), the GFA will be suspended with immediate effect. The suspension would be lifted only once the above-mentioned petition is withdrawn and FIFA is given written proof thereof.’’

NAN reports that the NFF has been engulfed in a leadership crisis since 2014 when two elections were held into the Executive Committee of the federation.(NAN)
OOH/BAY/AAB/OLAL
==================

(Edited by Adeboye Ajayi and Olawale Alabi)

Sport

Giwa-led board sacks NFF General Secretary Sanusi

Termination

By Dorcas Jonah

Abuja, Aug. 13, 2018 (NAN) The Chris Giwa-led faction of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Sunday in Abuja said it had terminated the appointment of Mohammed Sanusi as NFF General Secretary with immediate effect.

Victor Iroele, Special Assistant on Media to NFF President Giwa, disclosed in a statement that  Sanusi’s letter of appointment termination had been copied the Youths and Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung.

He said Sanusi’s sacking was in view of the enrolment Order 5, page 3 of the Order of the Federal High Court in Jos.

“The NFF Executive Committee has therefore decided to act in line with the ruling of the court of competent jurisdiction as it affects the position of the General Secretary of NFF,” Iroele said.

He said Sanusi’s appointment as General Secretary falls within one of those “acts, resolutions and/or decisions taken by the Executive Committee elected on Sept. 30 of 2014’’

“This underscores the need to dispense with his services.’’

The media aide said Sanusi had been directed to hand over all the federation’s property and documents in his possession to the Head of Administration at the NFF Secretariat immediately.(NAN)

DE/OLAL

========

(Edited by Olawale Alabi)