Uneasy peace in Nigerian football
Unlike in the past when football differences were settled in the boardrooms, football matters in Nigeria are now settled in the conventional law courts in flagrant violation of Article 64 subsection 2 of FIFA Statutes which stipulates that “recourse to ordinary courts of law is prohibited unless specifically provided for in FIFA regulations”. Sub-section 3 […]
Unlike in the past when football differences were settled in the boardrooms, football matters in Nigeria are now settled in the conventional law courts in flagrant violation of Article 64 subsection 2 of FIFA Statutes which stipulates that “recourse to ordinary courts of law is prohibited unless specifically provided for in FIFA regulations”.
Sub-section 3 states that the member Associations shall insert a clause in their statues or regulations stipulating that it is prohibited to take disputes in the Association or disputes affecting leagues, members of leagues, Clubs, members of clubs and other Association officials to Ordinary Courts of law.
Despite the clarity of the Article prohibiting any recourse to ordinary courts of law for dispute resolutions, most stakeholders in Nigerian football have developed the unacceptable habit of heading to court for redress at the slightest provocation.
At a time, the present executive committee of the NFF under the leadership of Alhaji Aminu Maigari had more than nineteen court cases to contend with. The federation was hit by court cases from all directions. At a point, Maigari had to cry out for help.
It is pertinent to note that prominent among the cases which almost brought Nigerian football on its knees were the ones instituted by the Jaret Tenebe led ‘new NFA’, the group that attempted to run a parallel football body with the ultimate aim of taking over from the NFF, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja case challenging his disqualification in the NPL election, the case instituted by former NPL board member, Barrister Ray Nnaji challenging his ban from football and the legality of the NFF and also the case instituted by Mr. Davidson Owunmi to have his sack by the NFF reversed.
After fireworks in the law courts, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja had the upper hand when an Abuja High Court presided over by Justice Donatus Okorowo declared both the NFF and the NPL illegal bodies that must cease to operate without further delay.
The NFF in turn appealed against the decision of the court and went ahead to file for stay of execution on the judgment delivered in favour of Jaja. Meanwhile, Nnaji was also cruising to another victory before the recent ministerial intervention in the football crisis.
On Tuesday, the supervisory minister of sports, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi convened a peace finding meeting which had in attendance the NFF president, Aminu Maigari, the General-Secretary of NFF, Barrister Musa Amadu, the Director-General of the NSC, Chief Patrick Ekeji and the duo of Dr. Sam Sam Jaja and Barrister Ray Nnaji.
At the end of the meeting, the NFF and the aggrieved parties accepted to close ranks for peace with the NFF accepting to pay compensation to Jaja and Nnaji after their claims must have been verified. Part of the agreement reached was that Jaja, a former NRA president and member of the then NFA board would be made honorary member of the NFF while Nnaji’s suspension and ban is to be lifted in addition to the compensation that is to be paid to him.
Having pacified some of the aggrieved parties, the minister of sports and the leadership of the NFF on Thursday travelled to FIFA headquarters to brief President Sepp Blatter on the development. The delegation to Zurich returned to Nigeria yesterday.
What transpired may be the right steps towards lasting peace in Nigerian football but there are still loopholes that may be exploited in the days ahead. For instance it was not explicitly stated in the agreement that there shouldn’t be further recourse to the law courts by members of the football family.
In addition, a bad precedence has been set by those who brokered the peace that those who go to court may be compensated for peace to reign even if the NFF is not convinced.
Speaking on this, former Secretary General of the NFA, Alhaji Ahmed Sani Toro told Shot! that what was done is in the best interest of Nigerian football but if care is not taken, some Nigerians would commercialize court cases.
He said those who want to get money from the NFF would not hesitate to take the body to court with compensation at the back of their mind. Toro therefore called on genuine stakeholders to desist from taking football matters to conventional courts.
“What has taken place is good for Nigerian football. However, my fear is that unscrupulous Nigerians may start taking NFF to court at the slightest opportunity in order to be compensated. With this development, we may have more court cases.
“ I want to call on those who have the interest of the game at heart to respect FIFA statues especially as it has to do with dispute resolutions contained in Article 64 sub-section 2”, he counseled.
As it is, Nigeria may be treading on the path of peace but only two of the principal actors in the whole saga have been recognized at attended to by the government and the National Sports Commission. Already, Tenebe has been reported to be threatening rain and brimstone. It is said he has since sneezed at the peace effort saying there is more trouble to come.
Apart from Tenebe, Owunmi is another aggrieved party that many expected would be made part of the reconciliation meeting. He and few others with axes to grind with the NFF may spoil the party.
Despite the obvious lapses that may be exploited by those who are bent on seeing out their court cases, there is momentary respite for the NFF. But the gladiators may return to the trenches if the NFF fails to keep the peace terms. Already Jaja on his part has warned the NFF not to renege.