No peace yet in Nigerian football – Odegbami

[MrVan]

By Patrick Omorodion

Those celebrating the return of peace to the football family with the perceived truce brokered by the Sports Minister/Chairman, National Sports Commission, NSC, Mallam Bolji Abdullahi between the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF and some aggrieved  stakeholders have been told not to over celebrate as the battle has not been won yet.

The minister had called for a meeting between the NFF led by Alhaji Aminu Maigari and Dr Sam Sam Jaja and  Barrister Ray Nnaji, both of whom had taken the football body to court over some decisions against them.

While Dr Jaja went to court for being disqualified from contesting an election into the Nigeria Premier League, NPL Board and actually got a judgment from an Abuja High Court which declared both the NPL and the NFF illegal, Barrister Nnaji was still in court over his indefinite suspension by the NFF under Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi.

However, last week the minister said that both Dr Jaja and Barrister Nnaji have agreed to sheathe their swords and allow football breath well again with the NFF also shifting grounds,  offering to apologise to Dr Jaja who was also made an honorary member of the NFF while Nnaji's suspension was lifted and  some amount paid as compensation for his legal battle.

 

But former Green Eagles captain, Chief Segun Odegbami has said the celebration would be short-lived as he will continue to pursue his case against the legality of the NFF Board with the Court of Arbitration in Sports (CAS).

"How can there be peace without justice. Some people have been hurt and you say there is justice when their cases have not been addressed. I have spent  lots of money on this case and I must pursue it to the end," Chief Odegbami said in Lagos during the week.

The former Chairman of the National Institute for Sports, NIS, said the issues of Dr Jaja and Barrister Nnaji were personal as they were disqualified from contesting an election, adding that the issue is much more than that as a court had actually ruled that the Board was illegal because an election never held.

"A court ruled that the NFF election should not hold and some of us obeyed and withdrew but they still went head to hold the election. The same court pronounced the election null and void. That judgment still stands and until it is vacated, the NFF remains illegal. That is the true position," he averred.

He added that the Inspector General of Police had actually moved to enforce the court judgment after it was interpreted to him by the legal department but "(Patrick) Ekeji had to appeal to the IG to allow him(Ekeji) sort out the differences in the interest of the country."

Chief Odegbami said FIFA has congratulated Nigeria that the football crisis has been resolved but "he is not even aware that my case is still pending with CAS. I will pursue it to the end and nobody can beg or bribe me."

Vanguard Nigeria