The hope of Super Eagles of Nigeria playing at the upcoming Russia 2018 world cup, could be on the line, as Supreme Court of Nigeria has ordered the immediate re-trial of the Presidential tussle between Giwa and Present President and FIFA recognized Amaju Pinnick.
This new development came after Chris Giwa and is Abuja elected executives took to Supreme Court after FIFA recognized Amaju Pinnick led and Warri elected executives, and also after exhausting the lower courts. The case which will be now be retried in the Federal High Court sitting in Jos Plateau state could leave the Nigeria Football Federation without a recognized President and a possible ban from FIFA.
According to News Agency Of Nigeria the Supreme Court while giving its verdict, held that the Appeal Court which gave judgment in favour of Pinnick after the High Court’s ruling in 2015 which favoured Giwa, did not follow the principles of law in giving its decision. It affirmed that it is only the High Court that can rule on the substantive case.
Festus Keyamo lawyer to Pinnick reacting to the judgement, took to his twitter handle to say:
Nobody should cause unnecessary panic in Nigeria’s football. That’s my case.
Supreme Court did not nullify Amaju’s election. The Supreme Court did not remove Amaju from office.
The Court only referred the case back to the Federal High Court to be tried properly, to know which of the elections held in 2014 was right.
Amaju was not a party to the case at the Supreme Court. So, the court could not have removed a party from office without joining the party and hearing from the party.