Should the elective congress of Nigeria’s football, scheduled for Friday, September 30, 2022 in Benin, Edo State be held as scheduled, outgoing NFF president Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick and 15 other members of his executive committee run the risk of receiving jail sentences for violating a court order.
This was stated in the warning issued by the Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday to Pinnick, his executive committee members, as well as the head of the election committee and the electoral appeals committee for the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
The warning letters which were signed by the registrar of the court said: “Take notice that unless you obey the directive contained in the Order dated 15th day of September, 2022 you will be guilty of contempt of Court and will be liable to be committed to prison.”
A legal action brought by the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria (PFAN) advocating for equal representation for all the five statutory bodies that make up the NFF as it relates to voting rights and representation on the NFF board originally led to the NFF elections being postponed from September 15.
The Youth and Sports Development Minister and the NFF President, or anyone acting on their direction, were ordered to maintain the status quo by Justice Inyang Ekwo in her ex-parte decision.