Lawyer Drags NFF Back To Court

A Lagos lawyer Jiti Ogunye, has filed a suit against the Nigeria Football Federation, claiming that the NFF are operating in spite of a court order nullifying the elections of August 26.

In his petition at the Federal High Court, Lagos, Ogunye alleged that the executive committee of the NFF were operating without regard to the court order issued by Justice Okon Abang, nullifying the August elections and “are now discharging the functions and duties of the offices, pursuant to the purported mandate they obtained in the said annulled election.”

Joined in the suit are the National Association of Nigerian Footballers, the Inspector-General of Police, the Attorney-General of the Federation and seven others as defendants.

Ogunye claims that the action of the NFF is in violation of the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution and is an assault on the integrity of the Federal High Court and the sanctity of its orders which could.

“Subvert the rule of law, negate the orderly administration of justice in the country and impact negatively on the practice of law.”

On September 6, Justice Abang annulled the elections into the Executive Committee of the NFF, ruling that the election had been held in defiance of an order he issued directing that the process be put on hold.

Key officials of the NFF were hauled before the court on contempt charges.

Ogunye argued that although the NFF was aware that it had been forbidden by the court to conduct the election, it still went ahead to do so and “purported to have elected persons into the Executive Committee and congress of the NFF.

“The court did not allow the contemptuous conduct of the NFF to pass. On September 6, in enforcement of its powers, and relying on its inherent powers and Section 287 of the constitution, it annulled the said elections,” he said.

When the case came up for hearing, however, Justice Abang ruled that the NFF had not been ‘properly served’ and dismissed the contempt charges.

And on October 25, the National Association of Nigerian Footballers (NANF) which instituted the action, withdrew the case, prompting the court to strike out the action, albeit without vacating its annulment order.

NFF executive committee member Chris Green, a practising lawyer, argued that as the the matter had been struck out, “it is as if it never existed, and all rulings and decisions arising out of the matter have also ceased to exist.”

That argument is what will now be tested in Ogunye’s suit.