Former international Harrison Jalla has again warned football stakeholders not to be part of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Congress scheduled for February 14, in Bayelsa State.

“Any purported Congress by the NFF by whatever name or guise, whether Extraordinary Congress or Elective Congress is subjudice,” Jalla said in a message to The Guardian, yesterday. “Those who have ears, let them hear. The Ibrahim Gusau Congress has no locus to convene any congress in desperation until the ongoing litigation on the NFF electoral process is resolved,” he said.

Jalla revealed that there is a presidential directive issued on June 17, 2022, “which the NFF continues to flout, acting as though it is bigger than the country.”

He added: “Those who wish to dare the law may proceed to Bayelsa State on February 14 for any purported Congress.”

According to Jalla, the NFF Congress as presently constituted is a one-member Congress ….“a Congress of State Football Association Chairmen, with 37 voting rights out of 44. Five federating units and blocs constitute the NFF and its Congress: the Coaches Association, the Leagues, the Referees Association, the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria (PFAN), and the States’ Football Association Chairmen.

“All are defined by the NFF Statutes as having equal membership status. The current undemocratic structure and its electoral process have been challenged in a court of competent jurisdiction since 2021, in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1376/202.

“The major relief sought is equal representation on the NFF Executive Board, Standing Committees, and Ad-hoc Committees for all five federating units and blocs. Therefore, any purported Congress – by whatever name or guise, whether Extraordinary Congress or Elective Congress – s subjudice.

“Those who cannot recollect history should ask questions. We did it in September 2010 in Lagos, and we will do it again if need be. The entire NFF Congress was charged individually and docked for contempt of court. They escaped jail by the whiskers through the last-minute intervention of the Federal Government. There are two subsisting court orders on that illegal Congress.”

Jalla, who is the chairman of the Advocacy for Nigeria Football Reform Concepts, added: “The current undemocratic Congress cannot make decisions for other federating units and blocs constituting the NFF. Only a Congress of equal representatives, set up in line with the NFF Statutes and the Presidential Directive, can amend the NFF Statutes. Nigeria is a constitutional democracy.”