By Innocent Anaba
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday, struck out the suit  by National Association of Nigeria Footballers, NANF,  against the Nigeria Football Federation over their exclusion from football matters. Striking out  the suit, trial judge in the matter Justice Okon  Abang, noted that  a  notice of discontinuance had been filed by the plaintiff, in which they expressed their decision  to discontinue  the suit.

The notice, dated October 25, 2010  was brought pursuant to order 50, Sub-Rule 2 of the Federal High Court (2), Rules 2009.

At the resumed hearing of the matter, yesterday, NFF’s counsel, in  opposition to  the motion, urged the court to hear his preliminary objection.

But justice Abang rejected his argument on the ground that, his preliminary objection was based on the suit which the plaintiff had sought to withdraw.

The judge accepted the motion to discontinue and subsequently struck out the suit. The judge was, however, silent on the board, which came in from the election earlier nullified by the court, thereby leaving  parties to speculate over  the matter.

NANF it will be recalled had in the suit  against the NFF and others, alleged that the process of the election was perfected without recourse to its members contrary to the clear wordings of FIFA statute and other extant laws relating to football administration in Nigeria.

Joined as co-defendants to the suit are NFF’s sacked president, Aminu Maigari; President of the Nigerian Premier League (NPL) Board, Davidson Owumi; the Minister of Sports, Ibrahim Isa Bio; Director General in the Ministry of Sports; Patrick Ekeji and NFF’s electoral committee chairman, A.U Mustapha.

Justice Abang had earlier on held that it would be improper to allow the elections to take place when there was a pending motion before the court seeking to restrain the conduct of the elections.

Specifically, the court ordered parties to maintain the status quo (ante bellum) pending the determination of the NANF’s motion.NANF’s President, Harrison Jalla, who deposed to the affidavit in support of the suit, maintained that he was the official representative of the players’ union at the General Assembly(s) of NFF in 2004, 2005 and 2006, but that he was “strangely” excluded from subsequent assemblies under various guises to stultify NANF’s activities.

Jalla revealed that the level of anti-footballing activities going on in NFF was alarming, adding that the constituents of the NFF, especially the Nigeria Premier League Board, are presently suffering from NFF’s internal sabotage.