…PFAN initiates contempt of court charge against Pinnick, 13 others

The crisis rocking the elective congress of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) scheduled for September 30 in Benin City, Edo State, may be far from over, as the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria (PFAN), yesterday, initiated a contempt of court proceedings against top executive members of the football federation, the Electoral committee as well as the Appeal committee.

The Federal High Court, Abuja, which had on September 15 ordered the NFF board to stop the elections pending the determination of the motion on notice, yesterday, issued a ‘Notice Of Consequences Of Disobedience To Order Of Court’ to Pinnick and 13 others ahead the elective congress.

In Suit No: Fhc/Abj/Cs/1376/2021, PFAN Task Force, headed by Harrison Jalla, initiated the contempt proceedings against the NFF top officials and members of the electoral committee.

“Further to ongoing gross violation of Hon. Justice Inyang Ekwo Order dated September 15, 2022, upon the motion Exparte filed on September 2, 2022, that elections to the NFF board be put on hold, former NFF top officials ‘well known’ as serial violators of court orders and their disdain for the rule of law have brazenly proceeded with the suspended NFF electoral process in spite of a subsisting court order,” Jalla said in statement made available to The Guardian yesterday.

Jalla added: “In the light of the above, contempt proceedings have been initiated by the PFAN Task Force today, the 27th of September 2022. Take Note that unless you obey the direction contained in the Order dated 15th day of September, 2022, you will be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to prison.”

Those included on the list are chairman of the NFF Electoral Committee Aikhunegbe A. Malik, Amaju Pinnick, Seyi Akinwumi, Shehu Dikko, Sanusi Mohammed (Secretary General), Ahmed Yusuf, Ibrahim Gusau, Gandi Umar Mohammed (Chairman, Election Appeal Committee) and Aisha Falode.

Others are Felix Anyansi, Yahaya Suleyman Gwande, Babagana Kalli, Majekodunmi Akande and Sharif Inuwa.