By Innocent Anaba

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday, insisted that Mr Amos Adamu, Federation of International Football Association, FIFA and Confederation of African Football, CAF, executive committee member, and Felix Anyasi Agwu, Sole Administrator of Enyimba Football Club of Aba, who participated in the annulled Nigerian Football Federation, NFF’s election, must appear before it on October 4, 2010, to answer to the contempt charge initiated against them by the National Association of Nigerian Footballers, NANF.

Twenty one officials of the NFF were expected to appear in court, yesterday over their alleged disobedience to the order of the court to suspend all actions pertaining the election.

However, 27 were present in court, including the removed President of NFF, Aminu Maigari, and Bolaji Ojo-Oba, former NFF Secretary General, who were absent at the last hearing of the matter.

Trial judge in the mater, Justice Okon Abang, in a short ruling during the hearing of the matter, said, “during the last sitting, I ordered that all the alleged contemnors should appear before this court today (yesterday). Out of the 29, only 27 persons appeared in court.

With regards to the 12th alleged contemnor (Agwu), the argument by his counsel that he (Agwu) could not appear in court today is in order. I have reason to doubt the counsel on the absence of the 5th contemnor (Adamu). I hereby refuse the application for the issuance of a bench warrant on Dr Amos Adamu.”

The court said that counsel to the NANF has the right to apply for another bench warrant if the situation remains the same.

At the resumed hearing of the matter, counsel to NFF, informed the court that Adamu was not in court due to the fact that he is engaged in an official assignment in Egypt and is having difficulty with his flight arrangement.

He argued that Adamu’s absence was not intended to trample on the majesty of the court, adding that there are documents tendered in court to show that Agwu is in the United States of America and could not appear in court on health grounds.