…Contempt of court charge

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday gave till Thursday, September 23, for removed President of the Nigerian Football Federation, Amos Adamu , Aminu Maigari and 14 others to appear before him or be forced to do so.

Trial judge in the matter, Justice Okon Abang handed down the two days grace, after their counsel, pleaded on their behalf and promise to make sure they appear before the court at the next sitting of the court.
Counsel to the alleged contemnors, told the court that he had not been able to reach some of his clients as they live in remote part of the country, adding that he was in the process of contacting them.

It will be recalled that the court had summoned 29 persons, who allegedly participated in the annulled NFF’s election to appear in court yesterday, to answer to the contempt proceeding initiated against them by the National Association of Nigerian Footballers, NANF.
It was only the chairman of the NFF’s electoral committee, A. Mustapha and 12 others, who were accused of alleged disobedience to the order of the court to suspend all actions on the election that were present in the court.

Among those who failed to turn up for the hearing in the matter were Dr. Amos Adamu, FIFA and CAF executive committee member, Bolaji Ojo-Oba, former NFF Secretary General, Felix Agwu, Sole Administrator of Enyimba Football Club and Bukola Olopade, Ogun State Commissioner of Sports.
Not happy with the development, the trial judge said that contempt proceeding is quasi-criminal in nature and all contemnors must be present in court except on health grounds.

“The court is not to witch-hunt anybody and it is not that the contemnors will be committed to prison without fair hearing. If they are not in court at the next adjourned date, the court will be forced to compel their attendance,” he said.

It will be recalled that Justice Abang had on September 6, nullified the August 26 election into the board of the NFF on the ground that the election was conducted despite a court order directing parties to maintain status quo.
Counsel to the defendants also told the court that he had filed and served a preliminary objection, challenging the competence of the contempt proceeding, urging the court to allow him move the application.
Counsel to the NANF, however, asked for an adjournment on the ground that he han not filed his reply to the application, further arguing that he intended to tender video evidences in the matter.

The court subsequently adjourned the matter till September 23, for hearing of NFF’s objection to the contempt proceedings.
NANF had filed the suit against the NFF and others, alleging that the process of the election was perfected without recourse to its members, contrary to the clear wordings of the Federation of International Football Association, FIFA statute and other extant laws relating to football administration in Nigeria.

Co-defendants to the suit are NFF’s president, Aminu Maigari, President of the Nigerian Premier League, NPL, Board, Davidson Owumi, the Minister of Sports, Ibrahim Isa Bio, Director

General of Sports in the Federal Sports Ministry; Patrick Ekeji and NFF’s electoral committee chairman, A.U Mustapha.
Similarly, Maigari had filed an appeal before the Court of Appeal, Lagos, praying the appellate court to set aside the ruling of the lower court, which nullified the association’s election.

Maigari filed the appeal alongside the chairman of the NFF’s electoral committee, A. Mustapha, contending that the judge erred in law, when he nullified the election despite the fact that no application to that effect was argued before him.