Factional President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Chris Giwa, has withdrawn his case against the country’s football governing body.
This move comes in time to stave the Friday noon ultimatum given by world’s football governing body, FIFA, to resolve the quagmire in the country’s football house or face a long term ban.
Giwa, it was learnt, withdrew the case in the Federal High Court, Jos, Plateau State sequel to a directive by President Goodluck Jonathan.
Jonathan, who met with the leadership of the NFF, led by Amaju Pinnick, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday night, sources said, told the team that he has been embarrassed enough by the crisis rocking the NFF.
He was said to have instructed the Pinnick-led Board to reach a compromise with the Giwa faction.
He was also said to have told those at the meeting to tell Giwa that he must withdraw the case from court or face the consequences that will follow.
He said the Pinnick-led Board, which is recognised by both FIFA and the Confederation of African Football, must resolve all the issues and march forward.
Based on the outcome of the meeting, Pinnick and others were said to have met with Giwa.
At the meeting, Giwa was said to have given two terms for the case to be withdrawn from court.
The first was that all the Committee of the NFF must be dissolved and reconstituted to accommodate his own interest.
The Pinnick-led Board was said to have told Giwa that the request could only be met half way.
The members of the Board said Giwa should bring forth his men who will be put on all the Boards of the NFF.
Giwa was said to have put forth 10 names.
The second demand by Giwa was for the reinstatement of sacked Coach of the Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi.
The Pinnick-led Board was said to have kicked against this move, arguing that it would be absurd to reverse the appointment of Shuaib Amodu after making it public.
Giwa reportedly stood his ground.
The Pinnick-led Board conceded.
It was after this that Giwa began the process for the withdrawal of the case.
The Federal High Court in Jos, Plateau State, where Giwa filed the case, is expected to deliver a ruling on an aspect of the case on Thursday (today).
It was learnt that the case would be struck out since Giwa had indicated loss of interest in pursuing it further.