by Olorunwa Lawal
World football governing body, FIFA, has given Nigeria up until Monday 8th September, to resolve issues in the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), or risked being sanctioned.
FIFA had ordered the NFF to quash the election which saw Chris Giwa emerge as the winner and conduct another. In response to the directive, the NFF said that another election won’t be held as directed by FIFA.
Following the refusal by the NFF, a letter was sent to the Federation, which was made public on FIFA’s website on Wednesday, September 3, stating that Nigeria was at a risk of being suspended.
“Following the decision by the FIFA Emergency Committee, FIFA has today, 3 September 2014, sent a letter to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) confirming that the NFF will be suspended with immediate effect should there still be persons claiming to have been elected to NFF positions on 26 August 2014 and occupying their offices on Monday, 8 September 2014 at 08.00 (Central European Time).
“The decision follows events linked to the NFF general assembly held on 26 August 2014. While the said general assembly was duly convened by the NFF Executive Committee to adopt a new roadmap leading to the NFF elections, some members proceeded to hold elections in the absence of the NFF President, who was being held by security forces for questioning.
“In a letter sent on 29 August 2014, FIFA confirmed that it would not recognise the results of the aforementioned elections and that the matter would be brought to the respective FIFA bodies should there still be persons claiming to have been elected and occupying the NFF offices at midnight on 1 September 2014.
“On expiry of the deadline, some people were still claiming to have been elected and were occupying the NFF premises,” the statement on its website read.
It will be recalled that in July this year, FIFA Emergency Committee suspended the NFF on account of government interference. The ban was later lifted as a result of a court order barring the Aminu Maigari-led NFF Executive Committee and the NFF Congress from controlling and managing the affairs of Nigeria football
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