Amaju Pinnick has reacted to his sack as president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), describing it as “null and void”. On Monday morning, the Minister for Youths and Sports in Nigeria, Solomon Dalung, ordered the current NFF board to vacate their office, in respect to a ruling by the apex court in Nigeria, the Supreme Court.
Dalung also asked Chris Giwa, who was voted as President of the NFF through a Congress that wasn’t recognized by FIFA, to take over the running of the Glass House.
However, in a statement signed by the counsel to Pinnick, Festus Keyamo and made available to DAILY POST, the embattled NFF boss gave reasons why the ruling cannot stand. It reads: “We are solicitors to Mr. Amaju Pinnick and the present Board of the NFF which he heads. We issue this statement on the instruction and directive of our clients which reflects their official position on the matter.
“The attention of our clients has been drawn to a statement purportedly issued at the behest of the Minister of Sports, Mr. Solomon Dalung, directing the NFF to comply with certain court orders effecting a change of leadership in the NFF. Our clients wish to alert the general public and the authorities in Nigeria that the so-called directive by the Minister of Sports is null, void and of no effect for the following reasons.
“(1) Whilst our clients respect the sanctity of court orders, unfortunately, the said court orders are not binding on FIFA, the World Football Governing Body. The NFF is an affiliate of FIFA. It should be noted that FIFA has consistently maintained that this same matter has been taken to the highest Court of Sports Arbitration in Switzerland by these same individuals and they have lost. FIFA is only bound by the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sports AND DOES NOT ENTERTAIN OR TOLERATE decisions by local courts in footballing nations worldwide. Hence, FIFA has since upheld the decision of the Court of Arbitration on this matter and recognized the NFF Board led by Amaju Pinnick. Nigeria has a duty to comply with that decision. In addition, for the indiscretion of those individuals like Chris Giwa to approach the local courts, FIFA has since imposed a worldwide ban on them from all footballing activities.