The Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State Capital has restrained the proposed Annual General Assembly of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) scheduled to hold on Friday 17th December, 2021 at the Ek o Hotel and Suits, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The restraining order was made on the 10/12/2021 by the Presiding Judge, HON. JUSTICE ISA H. DASHEN in Suit No: FHC/YNG/CS/133/2021 between MR. SIGHA OBIENE (Board Member, Nembe City Football Club of Nembe) v. MR. AMAJU PINNICK (President, Nigeria Football Federation, for himself and on-behalf of the NFF Board) & 7 Others, including the Chairmen of the various Leagues; the Honourable Minister of Youths and Sports and the Inspector General of Police.
The Applicant’s contention, in a nutshell is that, the present NFF Board / Executive Committee was constituted in gross violation / infraction of various clear provisions of the NFF Statutes which renders the NFF Board and all decisions purportedly made by the NFF Board, since 2018 when it purportedly assumed office, illegal, unlawful, null, void and of no effect whatsoever; and that this strips the current NFF Board of the vires to issue the recent Letter captioned Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Annual General Assembly, 2021 dated 1st November, 2021. Besides, far reaching decisions are t be taken in the said NFF Annual General Assembly proposed for 17/12/2021, including, the suspension of some members of the NFF; as well as the amendment of the NFF Statutes which are likely to not only irreparably prejudice the Applicant’s right as a member of the NFF but also have very serious adverse implications on the larger football community in Nigeria such that damage cannot adequately compensate, mitigate or ameliorate as the Applicant’s rights/ interest in the NFF are invaluable.
In his ruling on the Motion Ex-parte filed by Temedie Peter-Great Esq., lead counsel for the Applicant, the Court ordered thus:
“IT IS HEREBY AS FOLLOWS:
THAT, the Application is hereby granted as prayed in terms of the reliefs sought.
THAT AN ORDER OF INTERIM INJUNCTION restraining the 1st and 2nd Sets of Respondents (1st – 6th Respondents), whether by themselves, their servants, privies, agents, howsoever described, from proceeding with holding of the planned Annual General Assembly of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Executive Committee slated for the 17th day of December, 2021 in Lagos State, or on any other date or place in Nigeria; or from holding of any congress under any guise whatsoever, pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.
THAT, AN ORDER of this Honourable Court restraining the 4th Set of Respondent (8th Respondent) whether by himself, his officers, privies, agents or servants, howsoever described from allowing or giving protection to the 1st and 2nd Sets of Respondents (1st – 6th Respondents) in respect of the planned Annual General Assembly of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Executive Committee slated for 17th day of December 2021 in Lagos or in aid of the holding of any congress under any guise whatsoever, pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.
THAT, this Honourable Court hereby Ordered that, the Enrolled Order of this Court be served on the 1st – 8th Respondents together with all the processes via Motion on Notice, Originating Summons to afford all the Respondents the opportunity to respond as to why the said order should not be granted pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.
THAT, the return date shall be 10th day of January, 2022 for Report of Service cum Compliance and hearing.”