Giwa Takes Over NFF Office

The Chris Giwa-led board of Nigeria Football Federation has taken
charge as ruled by the judiciary, a member of the board, Yahaya Adama,
said on Friday in Abuja.

Adama told newsmen at the Glass House secretariat of the NFF the board
has returned to power as demanded by the court and was "ready to save
the Nigerian game".

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Justice Ambrose Alagoa of the
Federal High Court in Jos had on Thursday annulled the September 30
NFF elections in Warri.

He had also declared as null and void the NFF Elective Congress held
on that day, thereby restoring to power the Giwa-led board which was
elected in Abuja on August 26.

The decision had meant the board led by Amaju Pinnick should vacate office.

Adama, who was at the Glass House in company of another board member,
Sani Fema, to await the board chairman, Chris Giwa, said the board had
immediately swung into action.

He said, "Immediately after the court ruling on Thursday, the board
led by Giwa had met in Jos to discuss emerging issues affecting
Nigerian football.

"The board consequently reviewed a number of decisions taken in recent
days at the NFF, one of them being the issue of the Super Eagles'
technical crew.

"Also, the board nullified all decisions taken by the Pinnick-led team
since September 30. All committees appointed by the illegal NFF board
have been dissolved."

Adama said further that the board felt "so strongly about sustaining
the out-of-contract assignment given to the Stephen Keshi-led Super
Eagles technical crew.

"This is a very critical moment, and Nigerians want the national team
to play well, win and be a pride to them. This calls for greater hard
work from the coaches.

"They (the team) must win the remaining qualifying matches against
Congo Republic and South Africa for Nigeria to be at the 2015 African
Nations Cup finals.

"Emphasis now is supposed to be on concentration for the two games."

The NFA board member said the board has made interim appointments into
four committees in view of the short time available for the 2013/2014
season to end.

He said, "The Match Commissioners' Appointments Committee has Adama
Yahaya as Chairman, Patimidi Tukuru, Prof. Abu Mallam and Donatus
Mbaezue as members, and Emmanuel Adesanya as Secretary.

"The Referees Committee has Suleiman Muazu as Chairman, Sunday Audu,
Ahmed Maude and Chidi Offor as members, and Sunday Okayi as Secretary.

"The Disciplinary Committee has Iyke Igbokwe as Chairman, Abdulkareem
Ibrahimand Andrew Abah as members, and Lawrence Katken as Secretary,
while Appeals Committee has Leye Adepoju as Chairman, Godwin Odekina
and Ray Nnaji as members, and Okey Obi as Secretary."