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The battle by the
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president, Aminu Maigari and other
elected members of the federation to remain in office will today resume
at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, as Justice Okon Abang will hear
arguments on the preliminary objection filed by the football officials
challenging the relist of a suit filed by the National Association of
Nigerian Footballers (NANF).

NANF had filed a
suit urging the court to stop the conduct of elections into the
executive board of the NFA last year on the ground that the process of
the election was perfected without recourse to its members and contrary
to FIFA statutes and other extant laws relating to football
administration in Nigeria.

Contrary to the
court order secured by NANF then, the elections went on with Aminu
Maigari emerging as the federation boss in polls conducted on August
26, 2010.

After series of
negotiations with the leadership of the NFF and other football
faithful, NANF agreed to discontinue its suit against the respondents
and opted for an out of court settlement. The Harrison Jalla led body
however relisted the suit last month citing breach of the agreement
earlier reached.

Justice Abang, it
would be recalled, had nullified elections that brought Maigari into
office as NFA president, on the ground that the elections were
conducted in flagrant disregard to a subsisting order of court that
parties should maintain status quo.

Last hearing

At the last hearing
on the case, lawyer to the NFA, Akin Olujimi (SAN) informed the court
of the preliminary objection to the relist of the matter, adding that
he had served the plaintiff with the objection.

Responding, NANF’s
lawyer, Bello Aideloje applied for adjournment on the ground that he
was just served with the objection and that he would need time to react
to it.

For the NFF, NANF
which is supposed to be a players’ welfare union is not a recognised
body neither by FIFA or FIPRO the world body for football players.

However, president
of NANF, Harrison Jalla said he is not bothered by the said
non-recognition by the international bodies as he reckoned that the
association is duly registered and recognised in Nigeria by the
relevant bodies.

While the legal
battle continues , FIFA through its Secretary General, Jerome Valcke
had warned that the world football governing body will not hesitate to
use the full weight of the law on Nigeria should the court disrupt the
smooth running of the NFF as presently constituted.