By Akeem Oyetunji, ABUJA – Nigerian Government has expressed its readiness to respect the position of the World Football Governing Body, FIFA, on the leadership crisis rocking the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF.
Consequently, President Muhammadu Buhari through the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has directed the Minister of Youth and Sports Solomon Dalung to refrain from making any further public statement in relation to the matter.
The letter from the AGF dated July 20, 2018 and obtained by Prompt News Online, directed that the status quo ante be maintained in line with FIFA’s position pending the final determination of the suit.
Surprisingly, despite the letter from AGF Malami, which was addressed to the Sports Minister and copies sent to the Inspector General of Police, General Secretary, NFF and the Director General, DSS, Mr Dalung still went ahead to issue a statement saying nothing has changed.
“As far as I am concerned, nothing has changed. There is no development after the Supreme Court ruling if April 27, 2018 and the Federal High Court Order of 5th June 2018 because the court has not vacated the order.
“Those who are presently trying to instigate confusion, using the name of the President must be aware that the President cannot go against the rule of law. The Order issued by the court has not been vacated and the President cannot vacate a court order because there are clear cut processes of doing that.
“What happened in the NFF today is security excesses but it will be sorted out. The Federal government is urging members of the public to remain calm as it is doing its best to resolve the crises in the Nigeria Football Federation,” Dalung’s said in a statement he personally signed.
Recall that FIFA President Gianni Infantino had stated during the recently concluded the 2018 FIFA World Cup final match in Moscow, Russia, that Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick, is the only person recognised by FIFA as the NFF President.
Meanwhile, we reproduced below, the letter from the AGF titled “RE: A PLEA FOR CAUTION IN IMPLEMENTING ONE-SIDED COURT ORDERS CONCERNING THE NIGERIA FOOTBALL FEDERATION (NFF) AND THE NEED TO RESPECT FIFA’S POSITION ON THE ORDERS.”
