NFF Crisis: What FIFA Told FG Delegation

Contrary to reports in a section of the media, the Federal Government delegation sent to Brazil to brief FIFA on the recent crisis that engulfed Nigerian football was well received and allowed to make presentation.
The delegation met with FIFA helmsmen last Thursday as a follow up to the letter dispatched earlier on Monday to present the true picture about the crisis that has led to the suspension of the NFF and by extension Nigeria from FIFA activities.
But before the delegation could touch down in Sao Paulo, FIFA had wielded the big stick, suspending Nigeria at an emergency meeting by citing government interference that runs contrary to Article 13, par. 1 and article 17, par. 1 of the FIFA Statutes.
An online news portal, Promptnews reported that at no point during the discussion between the FIFA team and the Nigerian delegation did the former insist that it is either Aminu Maigari-led executive board or no deal.
It was learnt that FIFA officials were mainly concerned with the court injunction which earlier restrained the Aminu Maigari-led board from functioning and which also empowered the Sports Minister, Tammy Danagogo, to appoint a senior civil servant as Acting General Secretary.
Consequently, FIFA advised that the court case be withdrawn at the earliest possible time for the suspension to be lifted, a source at the meeting said.
It was also learnt that FIFA bosses could no longer insist on Maigari-led board when facts and figures were presented before them on monumental fraud perpetrated by the ousted Maigari-led board including misappropriation of funds from FIFA.
According to the source, it was at this point that FIFA officials shifted ground but advised further that NFF and FIFA Statues must be strictly followed in dissolving the board.
The bubble burst when Justice L.P. Lot of a High Court sitting in Jos, Plateau State, granted an Order of Interlocutory Injunction, restraining Aminu Maigari and the Executive Board from managing, directing and coordinating football affairs in the country.
The presiding Judge also mandated the Sports Minister to appoint a senior civil servant at the NFF as Acting General Secretary.
In line with the mandate of the Court, Sports Minister, Tammy Danagogo, appointed Lawrence Katken, an Assistant Director as Acting General Secretary.
Also, in line with the NFF Statues, nine members of the NFF board, constituting one fifth, signed and called for an extra-ordinary congress which last Saturday dissolved the Maigari-led board, citing financial secrecy and manipulation of the NFF Statues to suit selfish agenda.
Interestingly and unfortunately for Maigari, an ally, Yusuf Ahmed Fresh, a member of the ousted board could not gather North central State FA Chairmen and secretaries as they boycotted the meeting he called to mobilise support for his benefactors.