The Federal High Court in Jos has adjourned till Tuesday, July 10 after it heard arguments from counsels of NFF President , Amb. Chris Giwa and Amaju Pinnick yesterday.
Contrary to Pinnick’s lawyer, Festus Keyamo’s claim that football matters do not go to regular courts , Keyamo(SAN) approached Justice M.H Kurya sitting at the Federal High Court, Jos demanding he sets aside the June 5th order to enforce the Supreme Court Judgment of April 27,2018, affirming Amb. Chris Giwa as the NFF President pending the determination of the substantive suit.
Justice Kurya had on June 5th ordered that the election of the NFF held on August 26, 2014 under the leadership of Amb Chris Giwa be given recognition pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed in the case and that the purported ban of the Executive Committee elected on August 26, 2014 from football activities of the NFF was unconstitutional, null and void.
The order compels the defendants, including the Minister of Youth and Sports, the Inspector General of Police, their servants, agents and privies, howsoever, all law enforcement agencies to forthwith enforce the orders made by the court on 19th September 2014 and 23rd October 2014 and give recognition to the General Assembly Meeting and election of the NFF held on 26th August 2014 which produced the leadership of Amb Chris Giwa, pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice filed, in the case.
It was against this background that Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, on July 2nd 2018, directed the parties involved to comply with the restored order of the court, which led to Amb. Chris Giwa and his board assuming duties on Monday, July 2 as the President of NFF.
At the end of arguments from both parties, Justice Kurya asked Pinnick’s lawyer to properly serve the lawyer of Amb. Chris Giwa, while the parties maintain status quo ante till next week with Chris Giwa still incharge as NFF president.
Our correspondent learnt that the Pinnick group was upbeat about the outcome of the hearing yesterday that an emergency congress had been fixed for Sunday in Abuja with an executive committee the next day.
Meanwhile, the NFF has relieved Festus Keyamo his duties as NFF lawyer.
Our Correspondent scooped that the federation wrote him on Tuesday, July 3 that his services had been terminated forthwith.
This latest twist will be fresh headache for Keyamo and his client, while Giwa’s lawyer could feast on this development at the resumed hearing of the case on Tuesday.