Maigari’s election stand nullified – Police

  *     *10 NFF board members shun IGP

·                *DG pleads one week for NFF

·                 *NFA board meets Thursday

Alhaji Aminu Maigari

The Nigeria Police has insisted that the Aminu Maigari board of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) stands nullified by the order of Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Lagos until a superior order vacating that order is made available to her.

Upon the invitation of the 12 members of the board only Alhaji Aminu Maigari and his vice, Mike Umeh were present. The other 10 members shunned the invitation of the Inspector General of Police.

Ex-international right winger, Olusegun Odegbami was there (as an observer). Also at the police was the Director-General, National Sports Commission (Dr.) Patrick Ekeji and Alhaji Abba Yola.

The invitation is sequel to a petition written earlier by National Association of Nigerian Footballers (NANF) to the President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, for the Federal Government to respect a valid order given by the Federal High Court Lagos nullifying the 26^th of August 2010 NFF elections.

Upon receipt of the petition, our source disclosed that the President was terribly embarrassed that a court gave orders which were not carried out knowing that the mantra of this government is “Rule of Law” as carried over from the Yar’Adua schema.

The President ordered the IGP to ensure the complete observance of the Federal High Court order. That it is only to be vacated by a superior court order before the NFF board returns to the Glass House. The Commissioner of Police (Legal) was given the order by the IGP to follow the presidential order.

Upon the insistence of the CP (Legal) to effect the presidential order to the letter, the DG NSC pleaded for one week to “put our house in order”. Maigari and Umeh wrote statement to that effect for the police. The DG NSC called for a meeting of the NFA and NFF at 4:00pm. The outcome of that meeting will be made known to you soon.

It would be recalled that the Federal High Court Lagos gave an injunction for the 26^th of August, 2010 election not to hold. It was held against the orders of that court. The court nullified the election and was to proceed on contempt trial.

However, in a related development, it is gathered that the NFA board led by Jarret Tenebe will be meeting on Thursday (tomorrow) in Abuja. They will be addressing journalists by 4pm at a venue to be announced after the meeting according to a statement by Kayode Ajulo, the group’s secretary general.

BREAKING NEWS:

NFF BRIBED JUDGE – TENEBE

This is ground breaking. It is authoritative. The whole details. Exclusive. True. Names mentioned about all the persona. Wait. Don’t be in a hurry. Tag on this blog. Only a ‘banned’ journalist will bring you this.

‘Erekere’: Latest comedy film by Nigeria Football Federation

A copy of FIFA's original letter

I never knew I had such a value like this. I want to send my heartfelt gratitude to some jokers who sat down in the Glass House carrying the insignia of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) to nail with a life ban on a journalist they think has been too critical of their activities.

Between the time when they released my name alongside four members of the interim committee of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) and this morning, I had received more than 120 calls from people who I respect so much including some who I would never have imagined would call me for anything due to their social status in the society.

I am resolved the more to continue the due diligence I had observed on the activities of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in the best ethos of journalism and good governance. I went through my reports both in the National Accord (www.nationalaccordnewspaper.com ) and on this blog (www.olajidefashikun.blogspot.com) and found out satisfied that I had done my job to my own satisfaction fulfilling all the principles and ethics of journalism.

I wonder what quality of intellectitude and mindset exists in the people who are gathered and given the mandate to manage Nigerian football. I am not surprised at the low quality of their decisions and the rationalization of their inane actions most times. No wonder the minimum qualification to get to the board is school certificate, whether fail or pass.

Despite that some of them forged school certificate to sit on board. Some were dismissed from the civil service after a thorough examination of the allegations against them. Some of them have a penchance to force our young girls in the national teams for sex, some steal public funds for private activities et al.

I am not surprised at the fact that as people who can forge school certificate results to sit on the board of the FA they can equally forge FIFA’s letter head without having enough intellection to know how FIFA writes their letters. For those who are familiar with FIFA, the salutation “Dear friend” is always handwritten.

FIFA letter head has a logo with two balls and its motto. The motto in NFF’s FIFA but fake letter is different from the world acclaimed original. These are the same people who went to a court of law to swear to an affidavit to say they are no more NFA, that the NFA is defunct, and is materially and otherwise different from the NFF. They hurriedly responded to the Jarret Tenebe NFA project and claimed they are both NFA and NFF. I scorned them and made their foolishness open. These were my sins. Yes, for being a journalist. To that, I am happy, satisfied and fulfilled to be a journalist who is banned for doing his work. What a big honour. I think I should be in church on Sunday to do thanksgiving as a bigger comic relief.

I also think like I did the “Fantastic Four” will commence a demand for the investigation of the source of that fake FIFA letter. Kuje prisons still has space and accommodation for people who conspired between themselves to fake FIFA’s letterhead and embarrass the people and government of Nigeria. This fraud will not go down like that. Watch out for part two of ‘Erekere’ (bad joke, in Yoruba).

NFF AND THE GRANDEUR OF DELUSION

Its time up!

ANDREW JENNING:  As soon as Aminu Maigari’s goons met in the Glass House belonging to the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) a younger colleague of mine who works on radio pulled a call through to me, he started, “the Nigerian version of Andrew Jenning.” Quickly, it struck me that Jennings has a ban not to enter the FIFA headquarters or cover any FIFA organised tournament.

THE LIFE BAN: I laughed myself to scorn when I heard the resolution of the illegal board managing Nigerian football. These men who have turned the building to the Glass House of Sodom. Anyhow, the drama has just started. The battle has begun and only one winner must come out. I am going to win this.

Now, for those who don’t know, let them know. By the morning of Wednesday 25^th May, 2011 I shall be in court. Not to contest the stupid but senseless ban placed on my person but the entire illegalities which many Nigerians do not know about the masquerades in the Glass House.

Did one of them not call me yesterday morning that they heard I was going to court which I confirmed. He pleaded and even offered to pay me back all I would have spent to file the matter which I promptly rejected.

My offence? Good enough that the interim NFA board as headed by Jarret Tenebe has a chunk of my friends. I am not a member. I am just an acidic reporter who does not need to go to the Glass House to know whatever I want to know. I had exposed them more than any of my colleagues in the last one year leading to the trial of the “Fantastic Four”, the two sex scandals, the certificate scandal, the dismissed magistrate who sits on the board, the injustices done to Davidson Owumi, the inappropriate application of the rule with which Mrs. Dilichukwu Onyedinma, Emeka Onyema were dismissed etc These pains in the neck was what they want to nip in the bud.

What I think they forgot to realize is that I don’t have to be in any venue to report as a sports journalist. However, their myopic ban will not stand the test of time.

JUSTICE: With Harrison Jalla’s letter seeking for the enforcement of a valid court order in suit no FHC/L/CS/961/10 which led to the individuals parading themselves as NFF to be invited to the Inspector general’s office by 11am on Wednesday 25^th May, 2011 I presage that as an administration that prides itself as one that will respect all lawful court orders, these charlatans will have to go and vacate the court order to return to the house.

By the time I am through with my matter against them in court, I will see who will laugh last and who will get the final sledge hammer on the head. I am a diligent journalist. I do not pretend about it. If its money, I would have made a hell-some but I stand by the truth at all times. Time will tell.

Can someone tell those who are suffering the grandeur of delusion that anon, yes, anon, the twig will twang. The knell has sounded, the falconer cannot hear the falconer. I will hence go on to reveal all that I know to the Nigerian public.

No one can ban me. No one who has no legal foundation can act on power(s) that they do not have. Can we have a round of applause to the biggest jokers whose ban meeting is the last common task they’ve had together.

I am resuming in the Glass House Monday – Tenebe

Jarret

*FIFA letter is fake, face Zurich weekend

*received eight death threats in the last 12 hours

Speaking to some journalists early this morning in Abuja, the interim chairman of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), the break-away faction of the FA in Nigeria, Jarret Tenebe, revealed the fact that he will be resuming in the Glass House on Monday. After my inauguration tomorrow in Abuja, we will tell Nigerians our plans of action and programmes of football development.

In response to the fact that his group has been denied by a letter from FIFA, he said, “the purported FIFA letter is fake. We have sent the bromide to FIFA this morning to ask for the authenticity. I will be heading to FIFA headquarters in Zurich to meet with the President, Sepp Blatter, with three of the members of my board of the NFA.

According to the former soldier, “Aminu Maigari is my very good friend till this moment. The truth must be told at all times. Football is the industry we will use to employ no less than 5,000 persons this year. All those coaches and former stars abandoned will be fully rehabilitated. Wait till tomorrow when we will unveil the details,” he said laughing sarcastically satisfied with his feat.

On his guiding philosophy of life, he said, “this fight will be on but nothing will touch football. The national teams will be there and get their dues. The election that brought Maigari in was annulled by a valid court order and it has not been set aside or vacated by a superior court of law.

When I left to join the Nigerian Army, I told my parents bye-bye. I went and conquered and returned victorious. This is another war. I am trained to fight. I will return victorious. Having received eight death threats by trunk calls I laugh. I don’t need police protection. I will fight like all battles of life and return victorious again.

He charged “if the NSC does make a mistake of giving the NFF any money hence forth, I will take them to the EFCC for fraud. They can’t give money to an agency not known to law. Has the NFF not deposed to court affidavits that they are not NFA? It is NFA that is known to law and not NFF”.

Dr. Kofi Amoah to Deliver Keynote Presentation at African Football Executive Summit 2011 Ghana

Dr Kofi Asamoah

The organisers of the African Football Executive Summit 2011 taking place in Accra, Ghana 26-27 May 2011 announced that Dr. Kofi Amoah, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the African Cup of Nations Football tournament in Ghana 2008 will deliver a keynote presentation at event. The topic he will address is: The Business of African Football -Needed Reforms and the Way Forward!
As Chairman of ACN2008 Ghana he led the team that constructed four new stadia, training pitches and roads with state funds to FIFA standards, incentivised the private sector to invest in new hotels and other support facilities and energized the participation of the entire nation to unite and celebrate her oneness and aspirations around football to the admiration of the football world. In the end CAF judged it the best Africa Cup of Nations tournament ever!
Dr Amoah was also a member of the Ghana Football Administration (GFA) Committee that engineered the 'first' ever appearance of the Ghana Black Stars at a World Cup (Germany 2006), as well as the first multi-million dollar sponsorship package for the national team that significantly assisted in boosting the team's performance, cohesion and to help it become the pride and joy of the nation and of Africa at the last World Cup in South Africa.
He is a member of the Cup of Nations Organising Committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and has been a fierce and consistent advocate that Ghana or another African country can win the World Cup with proper forward planning, adequate investment and focus.
Dr Kofi Amoah is an accomplished entrepreneur who has founded and developed several companies including hospitality and commercial real estate ventures. His flagship company, Progeny Ventures International, pioneered the money transfer business in partnership with Western Union to the African continent, which is now responsible for billions of dollars transmitted to Africa each year from abroad.
Being the first of its kind the summit has a main theme of “21st Century Marketing, Branding and Leadership Strategies for the Development of Football on the African Continent" and it is expected to be a convergence of high profile football and business executives across the continent and also the world.

OWOLABI, OKALA, DISU NAMED IN BREAK-AWAY FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION BOARD

Dr. Owolabi, named in interim NFA board

The situation of the controversy in Nigerian Football gets messier with the break away faction that goes by the name Nigeria Football Association (NFA) this afternoon formally released the names of its eight member interim board with four ex-internationals and four members.

According to a press statement by the facilitator of the stakeholders, Mr. Harrison Jalla, the eight members of the interim board includes Mr. Jarret Tenebe  as the Interim Chairman, former Gombe State FA chairman, Ahmed Gara-Gombe  is the 1st Vice Chairman, former Green eagles goalkeeper,  Emmanuel Okala (MON)  was named the 2nd Vice Chairman;

Others named are former Super Eagles central defender, Chikelue Iloenyosi  Member; Chief Samson Akiga was named as a member, Sani Usman was also named as a member;

Two ex-national team players, Tajudeen Disu and Dr. Felix Owolabi were named as members. According to the release, the interim board shall be formally presented to the media on Saturday the 21st of May, 2011, at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.