Justice Isa Dashen of the Federal High Court In Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, has ruled that the proposed Nigerian Football Federation Annual General Assembly (AGA) in Lagos State be put on hold.
The judge ruled on Wednesday that the NFF’s Assembly slated for December 17 should not hold, following an ex parte application filed with a motion on notice in a suit number, FHC/YNG/CS/133/2021.
The suit was filed by a board member of Nembe City Football Club, Nembe, Bayelsa State, Mr Seigha Obiene.
According to the court order, the suit is between Mr Obiene as the applicant and Mr Amaju Pinnick, the President, Nigerian Football Federation and the Nigerian Football Association as the first set of respondents.
Other respondents are; Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the League Management Company, the Chairman of the Nigerian National League, Alhaji Alkali Mohammed, Chairman of the Nationwide League, ad Aisha Falode; Chairperson, Nigerian Women League, as the second set of respondents.
The honourable Minister of Youths and Sports Development and the Inspector-General of Police are the third and fourth respondents.
According to the court order, the judge said, “Upon the motion ex parte dated the 8th day of December and filed on December 10, praying for the following reliefs; 1. An order of interim injunction restraining the first and second respondents…from proceeding with holding of the planned Annual General Assembly of the NFF Executive Committee slated for the 17th day of December 2021 in Lagos State; 2; An order of interim injunction restraining the fourth respondent from ….allowing or giving protection…in respect of the planned Annual General Assembly in Lagos or in aid of holding any congress.
“It is hereby ordered as follows;
- THAT AN ORDER OF INTERIM INJUNCTION restraining the 1st and 2nd Sets of Respondents (1st – 6th Respondents), whether by themselves, their servants, privies, agents, howsoever described, from proceeding with holding of the planned Annual General Assembly of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Executive Committee slated for the 17th day of December, 2021 in Lagos State, or on any other date or place in Nigeria; or from holding of any congress under any guise whatsoever, pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.
- THAT, AN ORDER of this Honourable Court restraining the 4th Set of Respondent (8th Respondent) whether by himself, his officers, privies, agents or servants, howsoever described from allowing or giving protection to the 1st and 2nd Sets of Respondents (1st – 6th Respondents) in respect of the planned Annual General Assembly of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Executive Committee slated for 17th day of December 2021 in Lagos or in aid of the holding of any congress under any guise whatsoever, pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.
- THAT, this Honourable Court hereby Ordered that, the Enrolled Order of this Court be served on the 1st – 8th Respondents together with all the processes via Motion on Notice, Originating Summons to afford all the Respondents the opportunity to respond as to why the said order should not be granted pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.
- THAT, the return date shall be 10th day of January, 2022 for Report of Service cum Compliance and hearing.”