NPL Election: Crisis Looms As Court Restrains NFA

Mr Justice Okechukwu Okeke, sitting at the Federal High Court, Lagos on Monday ordered parties in the suit filed by a Lagos-based lawyer Jiti Ogunye to maintain status quo pending the hearing of the suit.

Ogunye had sued the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) and 10 others, asking the court to grant an order of interlocutory injunction restraining some NFA officers from parading themselves as duly elected officers of the association’s board.

He said this was because the elections held on Aug. 26, 2010 into the NFA Board was illegal, following the order of Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court on September 6 which annulled the elections.

He averred that the members had since reinstated themselves and were now discharging the functions and duties of the offices.

“The actions of the NFA violate the provisions of the Constitution of Nigeria, assail the integrity of the Federal High Court and the sanctity of its orders, subvert the rule of law and negate the orderly administration of justice in the country,’’ he contended.

Joined as defendants in the suit are the Registered Trustees of the National Association of Nigeria Footballers (NANF), Alhaji Aminu Maigari, Nigeria Premier League Board, Davidson Owumi, the Minister of Sports, the Director-General of National Sports Commission, the Electoral Committee, Nigeria Football Association, A. U Mustapha, Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney–General of the Federation.

At the resumed hearing of the case on Monday, Owumi, through his counsel, Mr Aideloje Bello, told the court that his client had filed a motion  seeking an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the NFA  from enforcing the Prof. Akin Ibidapo-Obe arbitration panel.

He said that the panel which was set up by the NFA on June 21, 2010 ordered Owumi to vacate his position as Chairman of the Nigerian Premier League Board and ordered a fresh election slated for  today.

Justice Okechukwu Okeke adjourned the matter till January  17 for hearing of Owumi’s motion and ordered parties to maintain status quo.