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Tag: Giwa

  • NFF crisis: Giwa faction claims CAS victory

    NFF crisis: Giwa faction claims CAS victory

    The Chris Giwa-led faction of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has claimed a sort of victory from the ongoing hearings into the confusion that reigned before the last NFF elections.

    The claims were made in a release made available to Futaa.com early on Saturday morning, which reads in part: “The substantive matter we filed at the Court of Arbitration in Sports (CAS) in Lausanne in Switzerland came up for hearing. Parties were present including FIFA, the Amaju Pinnick faction and we, the plaintiffs. It was billed for 14th and 15th January.

    “Nigerians will appreciate when the Amaju Pinnick faction misled the court to turn down the preliminary reliefs we requested and made Nigerians to think the matter is closed. When the substantive matter came up, we put up our case in the astute belief in the rule of law and the course of non-violence.

    “By the grace of God, the board shall meet during the week after which we shall avail the nation of the plans to move our football out of the deep woods of not getting new kids on the bloc.”

    The recognised leadership of the NFF led by Amaju Pinnick are quiet on the matter.

  • Giwa fails to resume at NFF Thursday

    Giwa fails to resume at NFF Thursday

    The much publicised takeover of the Nigeria Football Federation’s secretariat on Thursday, in Abuja did not happen as the Ambassador Chris Giwa led faction failed to show up at the Zone 7, Abuja secretariat as earlier being allegedly threatened by a Board member of the faction Sani Fema.

     Journalists had stormed the NFF Secretariat as early as 10am and some had to leave for their respective offices as at 6pm after the stand-by pick-up van of the Department of State Security Service (DSS) left the premises of the NFF as at 5.30pm yesterday.

    When Sporting-Life approached some of the staff of the NFF nobody was ready to comment on the matter.

    But feelers reaching SportingLife had it that Giwa who has been in Zurich at the invitation of FIFA to clarify some issues as relating to the crisis in respect of the NFF election may lead his Board members to the NFF Secretariat when he comes back.

    FIFA had thrown weight behind the Amaju Pinnick led NFF while the Chris Giwa faction is still fighting hard to regain office of the NFF.

  • RESCHEDULED GIWA, NASARAWA MEET TODAY

    RESCHEDULED GIWA, NASARAWA MEET TODAY

    The League Management Company (LMC) has postponed by 24 hours the rescheduled Match Day 35 fixture between Giwa FC and Nasarawa United billed to hold on Wednesday, October 29 at the FIFA Goal Project, National Stadium, Abuja.

    The postponement was sequel to Giwa FC’s reference to the ruling of the Federal High Court in Jos on the elections into the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Executive Board.

    In a letter to the Chairman of Giwa FC communicating the postponement, the Chief Operating Officer of the LMC, Salihu Abubakar reminded the club that the said ruling has been appealed by the NFF which also filed for stay of execution.

    The letter read: “The said court order you referred to has been appealed by the NFF and a stay of execution has been filed. Until  the final determination of the pending issues by the courts the ordinary course of events must continue”.

    The LMC further stated that it has been properly advised on the issue and arrived at decisions to ensure that the league season is concluded as scheduled without hitches and arrears of fixtures.

    Accordingly, the LMC has directed that the Giwa vs Nasarawa game must now be played today(Thursday,October 30) at the same venue in Abuja.

    The LMC reaffirmed its earlier decision that Giwa FC shall play three home matches in Abuja as communicated to the club on October 21, and that this match and the other matches for which the club was banished shall take place in Abuja as earlier directed.

  • Why Giwa must withdraw case, by Pinnick

    Why Giwa must withdraw case, by Pinnick

    The President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick yesterday gave reasons why the factional NFF  President, Chris Giwa should withdraw his case from the law court.

    Giwa had taken the issue of NFF election to Nigerian court which is threatening World Football ruling body, FIFA’s hammer.

    Speaking with State House correspondents, Pinnick said that Giwa should rather wait for the outcome of the case before Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) instead of going to the general court.

    He said: “So, it is a situation that you have to manage tactfully and that is what we are doing; not wanting to say Nigerian laws are not important in this regard, they are. But you should look at the bigger picture. But then, I believe Giwa will see reasons why he should withdraw the case and concentrate on the one in CAS. If the one in CAS favours him, it’s his luck, but if it doesn’t then he should work with us, that’s what I told him yesterday.”

    “The country is very passionate about football development. So we will do our best in making sure that we do the right thing, we do the best, taking all interests into consideration to ensure that this does not repeat itself.”

    “It is not every four years we should keep having crisis in the NFF. We’ll perfect the legislations, the NFF Act which also says that we shouldn’t go to court, we should go to CAS if you have cases, and so on and so forth. Those are the things we are setting out to achieve.”

    “Normally, you are suppose to go to ordinary court but you can go if you wish because the Nigerian law is supreme. There is no way you will relegate the Nigerian law. But because we have signed on to FIFA you are meant to respect FIFA legislations. If we had not signed on to FIFA we would say go to hell, but we have signed on to FIFA and CAF.”

    “It’s like an association you have signed on to and therefore you need to respect its laws, but not at the detriment of your own law which of course is supreme and that is why you exist.” He added

  • CAS disowns Giwa, rejects restraining order on FIFA

    CAS disowns Giwa, rejects restraining order on FIFA

    The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has rejected the  request for provisional measures restraining FIFA from suspending Nigeria from internationally-organised football events.

    CAS stated on its official website that the case of the appellants was rejected because “it was without object at this stage.”

    But the appellants’ request for arbitration is still expected to be heard and determined by CAS.

    The appellants, Yahaya Adama, Obinna Ogba, Musa Talle, Effiong Johnson, Chidi Ofor Okenwa, Busari Ishola, Mohammed Saidu and Tijani Jubril asked CAS for “[a]n Interim Order restraining the Respondent (FIFA) whether by themselves, their servants, agents, officers, directors, legal representatives and others whomsoever from suspending, excluding, removing, foreclosing and/or banning the Nigerian Football Federation(NFF) or the Federal Republic of Nigeria from participation howsoever from international and or FIFA organised football events, pending the hearing and final determination of the Request for Arbitration dated  September 5, 2014 by CAS.”

    FIFA in its response, according to CAS, “noted that two cumulative conditions mentioned in the Emergency Committee’s decision dated  September 3, 2014 had been complied with and that therefore the NFF would not be suspended.”

    CAS concluded in its statement that: “Accordingly, the NFF is not suspended and the African Nations Cup qualifier match between South Africa and Nigeria scheduled to take place on September 10  is not affected.”

    On Tuesday, FIFA wrote to the NFF stating that it will not be suspended since “positive steps” had been taken to resolve its governance crisis.

    But the world football governing body warned that it will immediately suspend NFF “should the electoral process be affected by any interference or mishap” till FIFA’s next congress in May 2015.

     

  • Giwa, Nembe replay Match Day 18 fixture on Independence Day

    Giwa, Nembe replay Match Day 18 fixture on Independence Day

    October 1, the nation’s Independence Day has been announced as the date for the replay of the Match Day 18 fixture between Giwa FC and Nembe City.

    The replay was in consonance with the ruling of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) which on June 12 ordered a replay of the match which was earlier ruled a walk-over by the League Management Company (LMC) following Nembe City’s failure to show up for the encounter.

    Chief Operating Officer of the LMC, Salihu Abubakar said in a notice to both clubs that the rescheduled match will hold at the Rwan Pam Stadium, Jos and wished both clubs a successful match.

    It will be recalled that match officials led by the Match Commissioner, Musa Talle had performed the walk-over ceremonies and awarded three points and three goals to Giwa FC. But Nembe City appealed the preliminary decision to the NFF Organising and Disciplinary Committee citing the report of vehicle breakdown. Their appeal was upheld by the NFF which ordered for a replay.

    Abubakar said :“The fixture will provide independence day football delight to fans in Jos and its immediate environs.”

  • Giwa shock FC Taraba

    Giwa shock FC Taraba

    Giwa FC continued their rise up the Nigerian Premier League table with a 3-0 thumping of visiting FC Taraba.

    It took Giwa 40 minutes to break down a resilient Taraba defence and it was controversially from the spot.

    Mohammed Saleh stepped up to put the home side one goal up, after an infringement led to a penalty being awarded, which was heavily contested by players from the visiting team.

    Shortly before the half time whistle another penalty was awarded to the home team and Mohammed Saleh converted it to grab his brace but only after FC Taraba threatened to abandon the game in protest.

    Upon resumption for the second half, Taraba’s quest to pull a goal back appeared laid back as the host went in search of a goal to put the game beyond their reach. However, two minutes from the final whistle, Giwa sealed the points,courtesy of a goal from Shuaibu Ibrahim.

    The 3-0 scoreline can’t be viewed as a fair reflection of Giwa’s dominace but Taraba will feel hard done by the two questionable penalties awarded against them.

  • CAS disowns Giwa, rejects restraining order on FIFA

    CAS disowns Giwa, rejects restraining order on FIFA

    The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has rejected the request for provisional measures restraining FIFA from suspending Nigeria from internationally-organised football events.

    CAS stated on its official website that the case of the appellants was rejected because “it was without object at this stage.”

    But the appellants’ request for arbitration is still expected to be heard and determined by CAS.

    The appellants, Yahaya Adama, Obinna Ogba, Musa Talle, Effiong Johnson, Chidi Ofor Okenwa, Busari Ishola, Mohammed Saidu and Tijani Jubril asked CAS for “[a]n Interim Order restraining the Respondent (FIFA) whether by themselves, their servants, agents, officers, directors, legal representatives and others whomsoever from suspending, excluding, removing, foreclosing and/or banning the Nigerian Football Federation(NFF) or the Federal Republic of Nigeria from participation howsoever from international and or FIFA organised football events, pending the hearing and final determination of the Request for Arbitration dated  September 5, 2014 by CAS.”

    FIFA in its response, according to CAS, “noted that two cumulative conditions mentioned in the Emergency Committee’s decision dated  September 3, 2014 had been complied with and that therefore the NFF would not be suspended.”

    CAS concluded in its statement that: “Accordingly, the NFF is not suspended and the African Nations Cup qualifier match between South Africa and Nigeria scheduled to take place on September 10  is not affected.”

    On Tuesday, FIFA wrote to the NFF stating that it will not be suspended since “positive steps” had been taken to resolve its governance crisis.

    But the world football governing body warned that it will immediately suspend NFF “should the electoral process be affected by any interference or mishap” till FIFA’s next congress in May 2015.

  • NFF staffers vow to lock Giwa out

    NFF staffers vow to lock Giwa out

    Chris Giwa may be locked out of  the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) glasshouse office if he tries to defy FIFA’s order and force himself into the premises today.

    This is because worried staffers of the federation are prepared to take their destinies into their hands by ensuring that Giwa who has been parading himself as NFF president does not gain entry into the office.

    Last Wednesday, FIFA in  a strongly worded letter signed by General Secretary, Jerome Valke gave Giwa up till this morning to vacate the office of NFF president or Nigeria will be banned from international football.

    The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has already warned on its website that if FIFA hammer falls on Nigeria,the Super Eagles will be automatically disqualified from the 2015 AFCON qualifiers.

    SportingLife learnt that the NFF staffers, who are apparently apprehensive that they could end up in the labour market if Nigerian national teams are stopped from participating in competitions have vowed to carry out their plans of locking the office as a last minute effort to save their families from hunger.

    “This is our only means of livelihood and we will not allow anybody to deprive us of our source of income”One staffer told SportingLife on condition of anonymity.

    “How are we going to feed our families if Nigeria is banned because it could force the management to downsize the workforce if there is not work to be done.”

     

  • Warriors, Giwa tie records no show

    Warriors, Giwa tie records no show

    The Glo Premier League newcomers match day 26 clash between Abia Warriors and Giwa FC on Sunday at the Umuahia Township Stadium did not take place as scheduled.

    Though the Jos-based side reported at the match venue for the encounter their opponents, Abia Warriors were absent. There were also no match officials present to conduct the business of the day.

    The League Management Company (LMC),which oversees the running of the top flight, had earlier called off all Week 26 matches but factional Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president, Chris Giwa issued a counter-directive approving that the match day 26 fixtures go ahead in spite of a notice from the country’s referees association to boycott matches in all tiers of the league.

    An official of Giwa FC, Sammy Adesoji said his side reported for the pre-match meeting but met nobody and same scenario played out when they turned up later in the day for the match.

    “We reported for the pre-match meeting but it didn’t hold as no match official was present, the same as Abia Warriors officials. We only saw a man at the venue who claimed to be the chief security officer of the stadium complex.

    “We waited endlessly but when it became obvious that the pre-match meeting is unlikely to hold we returned to our hotels.

    “At 2pm we headed to the stadium dressed for the match but still met the stadium securely padlocked with some Abia Warriors’ supporters drumming few metres outside the stadium.

    “Again there were no security men around, no match officials, no Abia Warriors players and officials, among others until 5pm. When we were certain the match won’t hold we drove back to our hotel.

    “We’ll return back to our base on Monday satisfied that we’ve fulfilled our own part of the bargain to wait for further directive from the authorities concerned,” said Adesoji to supersport.com.