The Acting President of Nigeria Professor Yemi Osinbajo on wednesday, held a closed door meeting with minister of sports Solomon Dalung at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Osinbajo who seem to be weighing in on the leadership tussle at the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) at the glass house, is looking for an amicable way to resolve the issue to avoid FIFA ban.
Due to the lingering crisis between the present President of the NFF Amaju Pinnick and factional President of the NFF Giwa FIFA a few days ago, issued a statement threatening to ban the federation if they do not settle their differences, as they believe government continued interference is fueling the crisis.
Both Pannick and Giwa have refused to settle their differences, as it has been one court order to the other , since the September 30th 2014 elections in Delta state that brought in Amaju Pinnick, who also seems to be the only recognised NFF President by FIFA and CAF, while Giwa is allegedly being backed by the Minister of Sports Solomon Dalung.
The statement by FIFA reads:
“Two decisions of the Bureau of the Fifa Council in relation to undue influence in the affairs of the Nigeria Football Federation… have been notified on 13 August 2018,” read a statement from Fifa.
“In line with art. 16 par. 1 of the Fifa Statutes, the Bureau of the Fifa Council decided that if by Monday, 20 August 2018, at 12:00 (CET), the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) offices are not handed back to the legitimate NFF executive committee under President Amaju Melvin Pinnick, who was duly elected on 30 September 2014, the NFF will be suspended with immediate effect for contravening art. 14 par. 1 i) and art. 19, as well as art. 14 par. 1 a) of the Fifa Statutes.
“The suspension would be lifted only once the NFF, under President Amaju Melvin Pinnick and General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi, confirms that it has been given back effective control of the NFF and its offices.
“Furthermore, the Bureau decided that if the suspension of the NFF takes effect, the Nigerian team currently competing in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup France 2018 will still be allowed to continue to participate in the tournament on an exceptional basis given that the tournament is underway.”
Meanwhile the meeting with the Acting President started at 4.20p.m shortly after Dalung arrived the acting president’s office after the meeting of the Federal Executive Council.
Although the reason for the meeting was not made known, it might not be unconnected with the threat by world football ruling body, FIFA, to sanction Nigeria over government interference.
Earlier on Wednesday, President of the Nigerian Football Federation, NFF, Amaju Pinnick, led three officials of the federation to a meeting with the Acting President in his office before commencement of the Federal Executive Council meeting.
Full details of these meetings will be brought to you when we get them.