The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), rising from its Extra-Ordinary General Assembly held on Wednesday in Abuja, summoned Chris Giwa and Rumson Baribote to face a disciplinary panel set up by the Federation to look into their activities which has put Nigerian football and Nigeria as a country in disrepute.
This was contained in a communiqué at the end of the congress. “For bringing Nigerian football and Nigeria to ridicule, opprobrium and disrepute, and in clear contravention of the NFF Statutes and other extant football laws by; (i). Committing infractions such as illegally contracting a law firm in South Africa in the name of the NFF and refusing to pay for the services up to a point where judgment was given against the NFF by a South Africa Court, (ii) Seriously violating the Statutes, regulations, directives and decisions of FIFA, CAF, WAFU, and NFF.
The General Assembly noted the motion for suspension pursuant to Article 37 (1) but in the spirit of Article 37 (3) of the NFF Statutes and in the interest of fair hearing the following persons were referred to the NFF Disciplinary Board: Chris Giwa, Yahaya Adama, Muazu Suleyman, Sani Fema and Effiong Johnson to appear and defend themselves.
For aiding and abetting the above gross misconduct, thus collectively contravening provisions of NFF, WAFU, CAF and FIFA Statutes, the General Assembly referred the following persons to the NFF Committee on Ethics and Fairplay: Rumson Baribote, Shehu Adamu, Ben Agary and Jide Fashikun to appear and defend themselves.
The General Assembly comprising all the 44 members firmly affirmed that the Nigeria Football Federation is one indivisible and unified body governed by the NFF statutes (2010 edition).
The General Assembly expressed explicit confidence in the Executive Committee of Nigeria Football Federation under the leadership of Amaju Melvin Piinnick.
The General Assembly observed a one-minute silence for Alhaji Hussaini Modibbo, who passed on in March, 2016.
For its credible efforts and innovations at making the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) much better, commercially viable and spectator –friendly with particular mention of the return of Elite Professional Football to Maiduguri, Borno State, the General Assembly solidly commended the League Management Company under the leadership of the NFF 2nd Vice President, Mr. Shehu Dikko.
General Assembly applauded the NFF/Zenith U-13 and U-15 Youth Programme, and charged the different Zones to conclude their zonal competitions ahead of the National Finals holding in Lagos in May, 2016.
General Assembly thanked the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports, Barr. Solomon Dalung, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports, Senator Obinna Ogba, Senator Samuel Anyawu, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and representatives of the Inspector General of Police, Director General State Security Services and the Chairman, House Committee on Sports for attending the Extra Ordinary Congress.
