Supreme Court judgement won’t attract FIFA ban – Agarry
Contrary to the feeling in some quarters that Supreme Court judgement against the Amaju Pinnick led board of the Nigeria Football Federation will lead to FIFA ban and sack of the Super Eagles from the 2018 World Cup, a member of the Chris Giwa led faction of the NFF, Mr. Ben Agarry has said such judgement will only bring the required harmony in Nigerian football.
After over three years of legal tussle, the apex court is now set to pass final judgement in the case between Pinnick and Giwa on who should legally lead the NFF.
Speaking yesterday, Agarry said even if the judgement goes against the Pinnick board, nothing would happen to Nigeria’s participation at the 2018 World Cup.
The former FCT FA chairman said it is ridiculous that after participating in court processes, the ‘illegal NFF board’ is now using FIFA to blackmail the country under the pretext that football matters are not taken to court.
“For four years they have carried on as if nothing has happened illegally but now that justice is about to be served they have remembered FIFA.
“They didn’t remember FIFA when they filled a motion and won at the court of appeal. They didn’t also remember FIFA when they told Nigerians that the Supreme Court had struck out the case for lack of merit,” he said.
Agarry also noted that before now, the matter had gone to Court of arbitration in sports, which ruled that election matters are not handled by it and redress can be sought from the country of origin of the petitioners.
However, contacted comment, when for the Director of Communications in the NFF Mr. Demola Olajire simply said he had nothing to say since it is a case in court.
“This is a court matter so I have nothing to say. Let’s wait until tomorrow (today),” he said.