By Innocent Anaba

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday discharged Nigeria’s Federation of International Football Association, FIFA, Executive Committee member, Dr Amos Adamu, sole administrator of Enyimba Football Club of Aba, Felix Anyasi Agwu, and 15 Nigeria Football Federation, NFF,  members of the  contempt charge brought against them.

Court

National Association of Nigerian Footballers, NANF, it will be recalled  had asked the court to commit Adamu and 16 others to prison for flouting the court’s order not to go ahead to hold the August 26, 2010 election into the NFF Board.

Trial judge in the matter, Justice Okon Abang, had following the suit by NANF, challenging the election into the board of NFF, ordered parties to maintain status quo. But the defendants allegedly went ahead to hold the election, following which they were cited for contempt.

Meanwhile, when the matter came up yesterday, the court, citing the failure of the applicants to serve the alleged contemnors,  freed them.

Others who got reprieved from the court are the removed President of NFF, Aminu Maigari, former NFF Secretary General, Bolaji Ojo-oba and 25 other officials.

According to the judge, there was no records that suggest that the alleged contemnors were  served the processes, which include forms 48 and 49 and such, they should thanked their God that the hammer did not fall on them and goo and sin no more.

The matter was meanwhile adjourned till October 25, 2010 for the hearing of all pending applications, including a preliminary objection filed by NFF, in which it is  challenging the locus standi of the plaintiff, NANF to institute  the suit.

Speaking after the court hearing,   Adamu, said the court action was not necessary, as there was arbitration available for aggrieved parties to resolve any contentious issues.

He said the action was not only affecting football in the country, adding “Nigeria is just one out of the many countries in the federation.  I will see how I can call everybody to the negotiating table with the view to resolving the matter.”