By Innocent Anaba
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday nullified the August 26, 2010 election into the board of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, for being held in defiance of an order of the court.

Trial judge in the matter, Justice Okon Abang, also mandated the most senior administrative staff of the NFF to take charge of the affairs of the association, pending the conduct of a proper election into the board.

The court in nullifying the election, said it was conducted in defiance to the order of the court made on August 20, 2010, in which the court ordered parties to maintain status quo ante bellum pending the hearing and determination of a motion by the Registered Trustees of National Association of Nigerian Footballers, NANF.

The court also ordered the Inspector General of Police to ensure that none of those elected in the purported August 26, 2010 election enter the board offices of the Federation. The court meanwhile adjourned till September 21, for hearing in the contempt proceeding initiated against those who conducted the election of August 26.

According to the court, Nigerians should learn to obey the orders of court, as the conduct of the officials concerned were reckless and high handed. Justice Abang added, “as far as the court is concerned, no election was held.”

Earlier, counsel to the NFF and Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Football Federation, had urged the court to take his application, challenging the jurisdiction of the court before taking the contempt proceedings filed by the applicant.

But Justice Abang, citing many Supreme Court decisions, said the court must assume jurisdiction to determine if it had jurisdiction to entertain the preliminary objection or not, adding that the issue of contempt should be taken first in order to protect the