By Goodluck Ikiebe
The Nigerian Government has called on stakeholders in the Nigerian Football Family to remain calm and abide by the Court Order, by not doing anything or taking any further steps particularly, as regards the NFF elections scheduled for Friday, September 30, 2022 in Benin.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Alh. Ismaila Abubakar, gave the advice in a statement issued in his Office in Abuja.
According to him, the Ministry is not oblivious of the recent developments concerning the Elective Congress of NFF, which ordinarily had been scheduled to take place on the 30th September, 2022.
“The Ministry is also aware of the Court Order made by Hon. Justice I.E. Ekwo of the Federal High Court on the 15th day of September, 2022 whereby the Court had directed all parties, including NFF and the Hon. Minister of Youth and Sports Development to maintain status quo ante pending the final Order of Court”, he said.
The Permanent Secretary stated further that “Following from the above Order of Court, which had also been served on the Office of the Honorable Minister of Youth and Sports Development as 3rd Defendant in the case under reference, the Hon. Minister of Youth and Sports Development will obey and abide by the Court Order and hereby advises all other Defendants in the case, including NFF to abide by the Order of Court by not doing anything or taking any further step(s); particularly, as regard NFF elections that will be or could be interpreted to amount to disobedience to lawful Court Order or contempt of Court.
He explained that it is also in the public domain that NFF known under the Nigeria existing law as NFA, (NFA ACT 2004) is one of the parastatals under the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.
Alh. Ismaila added that the Ministry is studying all processes served on it concerning this case, and will take appropriate steps or action to defend itself within the context permitted by the law of our land.
The Permanent Secretary urged stakeholders in the Nigeria Football Family to remain calm and law abiding as the Ministry seeks a resolution.
