A Federal High Court in Abuja Judicial Division yesterday restrained the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) from conducting election into its offices on September 30th.
It said the present NFF executives, led by Amaju Pinnick, should remain in office pending the determination of the motion on notice before it.
The trial judge, Justice I. E.Ekwo asked all parties to appear before him on October 31st , 2022.
Justice Ekwo’s order followed a motion ex parte by four plaintiffs.
The plaintiffs are Harrison Jalla; Chief Victor Rumson Baribote; Austin Popo and the National Association of Nigerian Footballers(NANF).
The defendants are the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF), the NFF President, Amaju Pinnick and the Minister of Sports and Youth Development.
The order reads in part: “Upon the motion ex parte dated and filed on 2nd September 2022 seeking the following orders:
*Order of interim order restraining the defendant/ respondents, his agent, employees, staff, officials or Electoral Committee, privies from organizing, conducting any election into any executive office of the Nigeria Football Federation pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction pending before the Honourable Court
*And for such further or other orders as this Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances
“Upon reading the affidavit in support of the application deposed to by one Chief Victor Rumson Baribote, Christian, Nigerian citizen, Legal Practitioner in the chamber of Celsus Ukpong and after hearing Celsus Ukpong ,Esq.,(with Baribote Esq.) of counsel for the claimants/Applicantd inform the court that the defendants are taking action that will adversely affect the subject matter of this case, it is hereby ordered as follows:
“Parties are hereby ordered to maintain status quo ante pending the final order of this court. Case reverts to 31st October, 2022 for hearing.”
