TheCable

The federal government has called on football stakeholders in the country to remain calm and abide by the court order restraining the conduct of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) election scheduled for Friday in Benin City.

In a statement on Wednesday, Ismaila Abubakar, permanent secretary, federal ministry of youth and sports development, said the ministry is monitoring developments regarding the NFF congress scheduled to hold on September 30.

“The ministry is also aware of the court order made by Hon. Justice I.E. Ekwo of the Federal High Court on September 15 2022 whereby the court had directed all parties, including NFF and the Minister of Youth and Sports Development to maintain status quo ante pending the final order of court,” he said.

In the statement, relevant stakeholders were asked not to take any steps that can be interpreted as disobedience to the court order.

“Following from the above order of the court, which had also been served on the Office of the Honorable Minister of Youth and Sports Development as 3rd Defendant in the case under reference, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development will obey and abide by the court order and hereby advises all other defendants in this case, including NFF, to abide by the order of court by not doing anything or taking any further steps, particularly as regard NFF election that will be or could be interpreted to amount to disobedience to a lawful court order or contempt of court,” it added.

“Stakeholders in the Nigeria football family are therefore urged to remain calm and law-abiding as the ministry seeks a resolution.”