ABUJA – Chuks Ohuegbe, an Abuja-based legal practitioner says the decision made by the Federal Government to reinstate Chris Giwa as President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), is in order.
The Federal Government on Monday, ordered the current board of the NFF, led by Amaju Pinnick to vacate their office in respect to a ruling by the Supreme Court.
Reacting, Ohuegbe, urged the NFF to comply with the Supreme Court ruling, saying: “the decision holds better prospects for football in Nigeria”.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, made the announcement in a memo, based on the Supreme Court ruling of April 27.
NAN reports that the ruling restored the orders of the Federal High Court, setting aside the purported election into the Executive Committee of the NFF held on Sept, 30, 2014.
Ohuegbe, a former Managing Editor and Legal Adviser at the Leadership Newspaper, told NAN that the Minister’s action was in accordance with the law.
“Those who are saying football issues must go to the Court of Arbitration for Sports don’t have an adequate understanding of the law.
“In law, if you are a party to any issue and you make yourself available throughout the legal process any ruling given by the court is binding on all the parties.
“Remember that all parties appeared in court and the matter went to the Supreme Court and Pinnick’s representation still remained. That is very basic and that was what happened,” Ohuegbe said.
The legal practitioner however decried the sentimental twists and conspiracy theories accorded the legal interpretation of Dalung’s decision to comply with the judgment.
“If not that Giwa is a peace-loving person, he would have been the NFF president to lead Nigeria to the World Cup.
“But he maintained that the interest of this country is above any personal interest. As the judgment creditor, he decided not to enforce the judgment until after the World Cup.
“Unfortunately, some fellows are beginning to give the issue some sentimental colourations.
“In this case, I’ll say Chris Giwa is a southerner who was brought up in Jos and has the fundamental right like every other person to seek legal redress which was what he did.
“Assuming he insisted that the April 27th judgment must be implemented immediately, what would have happened?
“Amaju Pinnick had no business being the NFF president one day beyond April 27. The law has to take its course and that has happened now” he said.
