A Federal Court in Lagos has annulled the NFF elections of last year and ordered 19 officials of the federation to appear before it on February 3 for contempt.

Justice Okon Abang had on September 7 annulled the same elections after determining that the process was carried out despite an injunction he issued asking that the elections be put on hold pending the determination of a suit brought before him by the National Association of Nigerian Footballers (NANF).

When the case came up for hearing, the judge ruled that the parties were not properly served and the federation officials were let off of the contempt charges. The case was subsequently withdrawn by NANF following an out of court settlement.

But NANF returned to court on Wednesday, and Justice Abang ruled that the NFF were in.

President of the Nigeria Football Federation,
Alhaji Aminu Maigari and the Acting General Secretary, Barrister Musa Amadu will meet with FIFA President Sepp Blatter and General Secretary, Jerome Valcke at FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland on Thursday, February 3.
The NFF top brass will hold extensive talks with the FIFA chieftains on the possibility of more FIFA goal projects for Nigeria, and quickly too.

Maigari to meet Blatter

The FIFA Development Officer for West Africa, Mr. Sampon Kablan, who is on a visit to Nigeria, met with the Members of NFF Executive Committee in Abuja on Tuesday and further drew their attention to the fact that Nigeria can benefit far more than it is currently enjoying.

“I am happy to see the peace and understanding that exists between the Ministry of Sports and the NFF. It is a good thing, and this will propel development programmes.

“All I need from you is permission and support to show positive aggression to secure more FIFA development programmes. You are behind schedule and should be benefitting more.

“Some countries like Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire are on their fourth development projects, while Cape Verde is on the fifth. Nigeria, a great football nation by all means, has only been able to get one, the Technical Centre, and one artificial turf through the ‘Win_In_Africa_For_Africa’ programme that was launched as a result of the first FIFA World Cup in Africa”, stated Kablan.

At different meetings with the Honourable Minister/Chairman, National Sports Commission, Professor Taoheed Adedoja and the NFF Executive Committee, Kablan has suggested that FIFA should take the lead in the construction of a befitting, ultra_modern Secretariat for the Nigeria Football Federation.