TheCable

Solomon Giwa, minister of youths and sports development, has asked Amaju Pinnick, president of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), to step down for Chris Giwa.

Giwa and Pinnick have been laying claims to the leadership of the federation.

But on June 5, a federal high court in Jos, Plateau state, recognised Giwa as substantive chairman of NFF.

In a statement on Monday, Nneka Anibeze, media aide to the minister, quoted Dalung as saying he had received a notification from Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation (AGF), and had no intention of disobeying the court orders.

The notification from the AGF read: “I have been directed to notify you of  the orders dated June 5th 2018 made by Honorable Justice M. H. Kurya sitting at the Federal High Court Jos in respect of the above mentioned suit between Yahaya Adama Vs Alhaji Aminu Maigari which states that the election of the NFF held on August 26, 2014 under the leadership of Amb Chris Giwa be given recognition pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed in this case and that  the purported ban of the Executive Committee elected on August 26, 2014 from football activities of the NFF is unconstitutional, null and void.

“It is trite law that court orders are sacrosanct and any acts of disobedience to it constitutes threat to the rule of law. Consequent upon the above, you are hereby advised to comply with the orders of court made therein which for now, is the valid and binding order of court, in the absence of any other subsisting order or judgment to the contrary.”

The minister was quoted as saying he had no option than to obey the order because he did not want to end in prison.

“This is a court order and not from Dalung. I will not want to go to Kuje prison because of disobedience of court orders,” he said.

“Therefore, I hereby comply with the court orders of June 5th 2018, while Mr Amaju Pinnick and others are also directed to comply with same.”