World football governing body, FIFA, has told Nigeria in very clear terms to reinstate the President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Aminu Maigari, or risk suspension.
FIFA, in a letter by its Secretary General, Jérôme Valcke, to the General Secretary of the NFF, Musa Amadu, said the reinstatement of the recognised presiding officers and allowing the recognised General Assembly of the Federation to call for a congress was the minimum standard that will be acceptable to it.
And this was not without a deadline.
The NFF has been given till midnight of Monday, September 1, 2014 to comply or face sanctions.
Valcke said FIFA was aware of all the intrigues that produced the factional President of the NFF, Ambassador Chris Giwa, and his subsequent recognition by the Minister of Sports and Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Tammy Danagogo.
He, however, said FIFA would not recognise anyone who emerges without following the laid down procedures.
FIFA said only executives that emerge through the election called by the NFF’s General Assembly convened by the recognised members of the Executive Committee would be acceptable to it.
Giwa emerged after a break-up of the Executive Committee of the NFF.
While Danagogo backed Giwa, most of the members of the NFF Executive Committee staged a walk out from the venue of the General Assembly.
This was consequent upon the arrest of Maigari, Amadu and Christopher Green by operatives of the Department of State Service.
FIFA said it was looking forward to the General Assembly fixed for Calabar, Cross River State on September 4 by the majority of the members of the NFF Executive Committee.
The letter by Valcke reads in full: “We refer to the enclosed reports we have received from members of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Association of Professional Footballers of Nigeria, as well as to information relayed by the media with regard to the events linked to the general assembly of the NFF on 26 August 2014.
“We understand from the sequence of events that the general assembly duly convened by the NFF Executive Committee could not start as planned because some NFF members, including the president, were being held by security forces for questioning. We also note that, despite these absences, some members decided to hold an impromptu ‘elective general assembly’ while the delegates were supposed to be deciding on a new roadmap leading to elections for a new NFF Executive Committee.
“According to the enclosed reports, 39 out of 44 of the delegates then resolved to hold an ad hoc general assembly during which they decided that elections would be organised for 4 September 2014 and elected new members to the electoral committees.
“Finally, we have learnt that the persons who claim to have been elected during the so-called ‘elective general assembly’ have come to the NFF offices claiming to be the legitimate president and members of the NFF. It also appears that the Ministry of Sports has recognised them.
“As stated previously, FIFA deems the general assembly to be the highest decision-making body of any football association and that its decisions are consequently binding, provided that these comply with the member association’s own statutes. According to the facts reported to us, it appears that the vast majority of the NFF members decided to set the elections for 4 September 2014 and we consider this decision to be valid since it was taken by the highest decision-making body (the NFF general assembly) and conforms to what has been previously reported to FIFA.
“As a consequence, we will not recognise the outcome of the above mentioned elections and should there still be persons claiming to have been elected and occupying the NFF offices at midnight on Monday 1 September 2014, we will bring the case to the appropriate FIFA body for sanctions, which may include the suspension of the NFF.
“We ask you to inform all parties concerned accordingly and we thank you in advance for keeping us informed of any developments in the situation. In particular, we would like you to confirm that the date of 4 September 2014 will be met because the timing seems very short.”
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