The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) election which was earlier put on hold due to an order from the Federal High Court, Abuja will now go ahead today as scheduled.
A statement by the the Chairman of the NFF Electoral Committee Barr. Joshua Onoja, said “some few minutes ago, my attention was drawn to an enrolled order of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, staying the restraining, “parties to maintain the status quo ante” order of the Federal High Court, duly served on the NFF.
“I have taken it a step further by personally confirming the making and existence of this order. With this development, all legal hurdles militating against the holding of the September 30, 2022 election have been dismantled”
Accordingly, he said, “I am pleased to announce that the Electoral Committee is now on a strong legal wicket to proceed with the conduct of the election tomorrow, Friday, 30 September, 2022, at the ancient city of Benin, Edo State.
“I am aware that members of the NFF General Assembly/Congress, including the candidates for the election, who constitute the Electorate have arrived Benin City. I am aware, as well, that representatives of FIFA and CAF as well as accredited Press men, election observers/monitors are already on ground Benin.
“As the Chairman of the NFF Electoral Committee, I assure everyone that the Committee will deliver on its mandate of organizing a credible, democratic, free and fair election that we all will be exceedingly proud of”.
Earlier, he said “On 27th September, 2022, my attention was drawn to a court document from the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, FORM 48 – Notice of Consequences of Disobedience of Court Order, addressed to me and making the round in the social media. It relates to an order of the Federal High Court, Coram Ekwo, J., directing parties in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1376/21 to “maintain the status quo ante pending the final order of this court”.
The said court process, he said was never served personally on me. Indeed, neither the NFF Electoral Committee nor my humble self is a party to the pending suit.
“Prior to this development, the media had been awash with reports suggesting that the court has restrained the NFF from holding or otherwise proceeding with the election into the executive offices of the NFF.
“The Electoral Committee of the NFF already scheduled the election to hold on Friday, 30th September, 2022. Once I confirmed the existence of the order, I advised the NFF to ensure that steps are taken to vacate or discharge same, failing which the Electoral Committee, which I have the privilege of heading, will not be able to proceed with the conduct of the election so we are not seen as violating a valid and subsisting order of court, whether rightly or wrongly made”.
But the order has been vacated and the election will hold as scheduled.
