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After
previously agreeing to an out of court settlement with the current
board of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Harrison Jalla
President of the National Association of Nigerian Footballers (NANF)
has stated that his body will be resuming its legal battle with the
football body.

According to a
statement issued from the NANF’s secretariat, the NFF board as
presently constituted has always been illegal and will not be allowed
to continue in office.

The statement read
in part: “The National Association of Nigeria Footballers (NANF) has
instructed its Lawyers to relist suit NO FHC/L/CS/962/10 THE REGISTERED
TRUSTEES OF NANF VS NIGERIA FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION BEFORE JUSTICE OKON
ABANG and initiate contempt proceedings against Aminu Maigari and his
illegal Board for flouting the court order of September 6, 2010
annulling the August 26 Elections into the NFA Executive Committee and
its congress,” the statement read in part.

“The NANF also
further instructed its Lawyers to seek the assistance of the Inspector
General of Police as ordered by the court to enforce the order and
ensure Aminu Maigari and his group vacate the glass House as soon as
possible.

“Meanwhile those
conducting Elections into the state Football Associations are engaging
in an Exercise in futility. Also anybody or group who attempt to
organize or conduct Election on the 12th of January 2011 into the
position of Chairman of Chairmen and the position of Chairman of the
Nigeria Premier League would be acting.”

Shedding more light
on the matter, Jalla yesterday said he was on his way to Abuja
yesterday to inform the Inspector General of Police of the need to
comply with Justice Abang’s ruling.

“They have shown that they are not human beings and so we will treat them like animals,” said Jalla.

When contacted about the development, NFF President, Aminu Maigari said the former Flash Flamingo player can do what he likes.

“Let them go to
court. Let them do whatever pleases them. We are serving this country;
that’s all we know. We cannot allow an outside body to dictate to us or
tell us what to do,” he said.

Lawyers disagree

Two lawyers, Jiti
Ogunye and Wahab Shittu have however expressed different opinions on
the implication of the latest move by NANF.

For Ogunye, who has
himself initiated proceeding against Maigari and his team for flouting
a court order, once the court agrees to re-enlist the case then all
previous orders on the case remains how they are.

“The case was
withdrawn and struck out by the court it was never dismissed for want
of lack of merit. If they decide to go back to court and the court
re-enlists their case then the former rulings still stay,” he said.

However, another
Lawyer, Wahab Shittu stated that as much as the players’ union have the
right to go back to court got they will be starting their case on a
fresh note.

Harrison Jalla withdrew his case against the NFF on October 25 last
year after some concessions were made to the union in a negotiation
involving the former FIFA Executive member, Amos Adamu, and the House
Committee on Sports. The agreements have been breached, according to
Jalla.