Nigeria Football Federation president Amaju Pinnick has warned that any attempts to violate the body’s FIFA- approved statutes and disrupt its electoral process could lead to severe sanctions, including bans.
The elections into the NFF board have been scheduled for September 30 in Benin City, Edo State as approved by the Congress held in Lagos on Thursday.
Pinnick, who will not be running for a third term, spoke as it emerged that there are plans by dissatisfied parties within the football family to take the NFF to court, which could scupper the elections.
Originally scheduled for December 2021, the elections were shelved due to ongoing litigation, although the case has been set aside for peace to reign.
“I want to say that enough is enough. We have tolerated these individuals for much longer than necessary,” Pinnick said today.
“I am leaving the position of NFF Presidency in a few weeks but I am still a Member of the FIFA Council and I can talk about Nigerian football anywhere. It is time to call the bluff of these persons. Their actions not only malign and defame the NFF; these also de-market the NFF to a certain degree.
“If the NFF holds a General Assembly, they go to court. If the NFF does not hold, they go to court. Every single day, they want to go to court. It is their right, but it is also the right of the NFF to curtail such excesses.
“FIFA clearly stipulates that football matters are not meant for civil courts, and further infractions by anyone would be met with the stiffest of sanctions, including but not limited to outright ban from the game.”
Article 69 (1) of the NFF Statutes 2010 stipulates: “NFF, its members, players, officials and match and player’s agents will not take any dispute to ordinary courts unless specifically provided for in these Statutes and FIFA regulations. Any disagreement shall be submitted to the jurisdiction of FIFA, CAF, WAFU or NFF.
“(2) NFF shall have jurisdiction on internal national disputes i.e, disputes between parties belonging to NFF. FIFA shall have jurisdiction on international disputes, i.e, disputes between parties belonging to different Associations and/or Confederations.”
Several candidates have indicated interest in succeeding Pinnick, including ex-internationals Idaho Peterside, Jonathan Akpoborire and Benedict Akwuegbu.
