GLASSHOUSE TAKE OVER
- As FCT police comissiomer summons Pinnick, Giwa
Femi Solaja and Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja
The unending drama in the Glass House took another turn last night as the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) produced an evidence from the Federal High Court in Jos that disowned the ‘writ of execution’ being bandied by the Giwa group.
The Head of Communication department of NFF, Ademola Olajire, insisted that the Registrar of the Federal High Court, Jos, Mr. Nasiru Gusau monday in said the document circulated in the media lastweek did not emanate from the court.
“We did not issue any writ of execution on this matter. What you are saying is strange to me,” Gusau said in a video interview made available to the media lastnight.
Gusau explained further: “The Giwa people made an application for writ of execution, which the court declined. The court cannot execute a declaratory judgment or an interlocutory order.
“Moreover, if the case is on appeal, how can the High Court issue a writ of execution?”
Olajire claimed that the undated and completely invalid ‘writ of execution’ submitted at the NFF secretariat last Friday, by an Executive Officer (Accounts) with the Federal High Court, Jos, Langmbweng Enoch Wupeh.
“The ‘writ of execution’ was, strangely, prepared and signed by Plaintiff Counsel (Giwa’s lawyer), and to it was attached only the first two orders made by the court, leaving out the most recent orders that struck out the first two, as well as the Hon. Judge’s clarification. The signature of a ‘Judge’ (no name) was poorly forged,” he explained.
After its 25 –minute misadventure at the Glass House, the Giwa group issued a self –deluding statement that it had ‘taken over’ the NFF.
The invasion came only 24 hours after a peace meeting ordered by the Nigeria Parliament. Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Sports (which is saddled with the responsibility), Rt. Hon. Anayo Nebe, at the weekend expressed huge disappointment with the Giwa group’s action
In a related development, the Federal Capital Teritory (FCT) Police Commissioner, Wilson Inalegwu, ymonday summoned both Amaju Pinnick and Chris Giwa, the two factions claiming the sole of the Glass House.
Pinnick and Giwa held separate meeting with the police chief at his office as the crisis assumed a new and dangerous twist, where in trying to reinforce their claim as the NFF President, and they reported at the Glass House at different time.
Giwa, accommpanied by Effiong Johnson, Sani Ferma and Yahaya Adama, stormed the Glasshouse few minutes after Pinnick addressed the media and secretariat staff.
They were given access by the Divisional Police Officer Wuse Zone 3, Supretendent Irek Sunday after getting clearance from Inalegwu.
They later left to inspect the Sunday Dankaro House, the new NFF Secretariat under renovation.
Pinnick insisted he was validly elected NFF President. He said his appeal due to be heard on June 28, negated the ruling of the lower court which gave an order that favour Giwa.
He also accused the Giwa group of trying to sabotaging Nigeria’s quest to qualify for 2018 World Cup in Russia by using force to take over the NFF office last Friday, a day after the House of Representatives Sports Committee brokered a truce between him and Giwa.
He also insisted Giwa remained banned by Confederation of African Football (CAF) which also reserves the right to unban him.
” I should not have sat down with him before the House Committee, I only did it out of respect to the lawmakers and Nigerian government. The issue of lifting his ban is a CAF congressional issue and not a decision by NFF board. I remainthe President of NFF as I was elected till 2018.
“Aside from that, I was not joined in the court case and can’t be removed from office as ruled by the Supreme Court. The parties joined in the case are Aminu Maigari and Musa Amadu. I remain the President, ” Pinnick said.
