The Nation Newspaper

Tag: impeachment

  • Nasarawa CJ under pressure to disband impeachment panel

    Nasarawa CJ under pressure to disband impeachment panel

    Desperate to impeach Nasarawa State Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, lawmakers sat yesterday outside Lafia, the state capital, with a mace allegedly procured from the National Assembly.

    The Assembly held the session against the advice of President Goodluck Jonathan that the lawmakers should halt the impeachment.

    At the curious sitting, members of the Assembly asked the Chief Judge, Justice Suleiman Dikko, to disband the seven-man investigative panel looking into the allegations against the governor.

    The members of the panel, inaugurated last Friday, are Yusuf Shehu Usman (chairman), Mohammed Sabo Keana, Reverend Joel Galadima, Alhaji Abdu Usman, Samuel Chaku, Mohammed Sani Usman and Pastor Daniel Chaga.

    The Assembly, The Nation learnt was uncomfortable with the composition of the panel, which the Chief Judge set up in line with Section 188(5) of the 1999 Constitution.

    The section states: “Within seven days of the passing of a motion under the foregoing provisions of this section, the Chief Judge of the state shall at the request of the Speaker of the House of Assembly, appoint a panel of seven persons who, in his opinion, are of unquestionable integrity, not being members of any public service, legislative house or political party, to investigate the allegation as provided in this section.”

    In spite of the fact that the panel is made up of non-partisan members, the dissatisfied lawmakers relocated to Karu Local Government Area, near their new base in Abuja, to sit.

    The lawmakers asked the Chief Judge to disband the seven-man probe panel which they  alleged was “tilted in favour” of the embattled governor.

    A source said: “They rejected the composition of the panel by claiming that it would not be able to look into the allegations against the governor without bias.

    “They have asked for the reconstitution of the investigative panel by the Chief Judge who had insisted on substantial compliance with the law.

    “They wanted the CJ to raise a panel made up of only PDP members or those who have an axe to grind with the governor. But the Chief Judge appointed panel members with unquestionable integrity.”

    According to the source, the game plan of the lawmakers is to create a stalemate which will not allow the panel to sit for three months as required by Section 188(7) (b) of the 1999 Constitution. “They want impeachment by ambush because they are afraid of the outcome of the panel”, he said, adding:

    “The idea behind yesterday’s sitting was to create an impression that the Assembly ordered the Chief Judge to disband the panel and recall the report on expiry of the constitutional period allowed for the panel and go ahead with the impeachment.

    “They are aware that the impeachment process ends constitutionally if the panel clears the governor of any wrongdoing on the 16 allegations of misconduct levelled against him.”

    It was gathered that some Abuja-based PDP leaders were behind the pressure on the lawmakers to go ahead with the impeachment.

    But it was not immediately ascertained on how the lawmakers procured the mace to sit in Karu.

    A highly-placed source said: “Some top members of the upper chamber of the National Assembly provided the logistics and the venue at the neighbouring Karu Local Government Area that was used during the sitting.

    Al-Makura’s spokesman Abdulhamid Kwarra said: “I want to tell you that these people are desperate to remove the governor. The mace that was used today is not that of the State Assembly but the National Assembly.”

    “Members of the Assembly have stopped using the President’s name but are now dropping the names of the Senate President and other members of the National Assembly from Northcentral Zone.”

    But the governor’s Special Adviser (Special Duties) Mohammed Abdullahi, said: “ I doubt whether the Senate President will condescend so low to support the subversion of the Nigerian Constitution…If truly he does, it’s unfortunate!”

    Armed boys yesterday invade the Nasarawa State House of Assembly complex in Lafia and beat some of the lawmakers.

    The youths laid a siege around the complex and attacked the members, who they thought came around in connection with the impeachment move against Governor Al-Makura.

    The protesters demanded the immediate suspension of all impeachment proceedings.

    People who work in the building were barred from the Assembly Complex.

  • Abuse of impeachment under 1999 Constitution

     A lawyer Solomon Kehinde, in this article examines the abuse of the impeachment clause in the Constitution.

    Every democratic society has mechanisms that checkmate its leaders from becoming autocratic. This is in consonance with the words of Lord Acton that “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely”.

    Nigeria, like most democratic societies, has one of such mechanisms and this is known as ‘’impeachment’’. Unfortunately, this mechanism almost broke the slender body of Nigeria’s burgeoning democracy between 2005 and 2007, when the process of impeachment was grossly abused.

    Where did the country get it wrong? Was it that Nigeria did not get it right from her colonial masters or from the country she copied the 1999 Constitution? Was it that the country’s political class had a sheer disregard for constitutional provisions?

    Between 2005 and 2007, five governors were impeached by their  State Houses of Assembly. The only unifying factor of these impeachments was that none could be said to have followed due process. They were all removed without having regard to constitutional provisions.

    The United Kingdom that colonised Nigeria utilised the impeachment process until 1795 when Warren Hastings was impeached. Since that time, the impeachment process has no longer been in practice and the country has developed what is known as “passing a vote of no confidence” on any public officer who has committed an offence serious to warrant such a fundamental decision. These processes mentioned above have been sparingly used by the United Kingdom; it only resorted to them when it was absolutely necessary.

    Another interesting country is the United States. This is so because of the political and constitutional nexus that exists between Nigeria and America. In this country, impeachment is not only limited to the president and his vice, governors and their deputies but to all civil officers – they could be senators and judges as experience has shown.

    Since 1787 when the United States Constitution became operative, only thirteen officers have so far been impeached. This underscores how Americans guard this provision jealously to avoid political instability. It is only resorted to when other avenues have become practically impossible.

    Coming back to Nigeria’s constitutional provisions as regards impeachment, though the 1999 Constitution does not expressly use the term “impeachment”, the process and procedure employed are synonymous to impeachment as we have under the American Constitution.

    Section 143 of the 1999 Constitution provides for the impeachment of both the President and the Vice President. Section 188 of the same Constitution provides for the removal of governors and their deputies. This latter section is a replica of section 170 of the extant 1979 Constitution under which Alhaji Balarabe Musa of the defunct People’s Redemption Party (PRP) of the old Kaduna State was impeached by a House dominated by the also defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN). He was the only executive Governor removed under that constitution.

    Both the 1979 Constitution and 1999 Constitution do not provide grounds for impeachment. This is in contrast to the American constitution which highlights the grounds for impeaching a public officer. The 1999 Constitution only provides that above mentioned elected officers shall be removed from office if they are found guilty of “gross misconduct”. The definition of “gross misconduct” in Section 188 (11) is not explicit enough.

    Therefore, reckless legislatures have harped on this inadequacy to impeach on frivolous grounds. The case of Mr. Peter Obi of Anambra State is an evidence of this rascality. Therefore, the constitution has put the executive at the mercy of the legislature because the latter can in its own opinion manufacture what amounts to “gross misconduct”.

     

     

     

     

  • Enugu impeachment saga in perspective

    Expectedly, the impeachment proceedings commenced by the Enugu State House of Assembly against the Deputy Governor of the state, Mr Sunday Onyebuchi, have continued to generate much attention and attract sundry reactions in both the regular and the social media.

    Much of the frenzy as usual, is easily attributable to the perennial mischief-makers and detractors of the government whose attempts to distort the facts and demonize Governor Sullivan Chime and some of his principal officers notably, the Chief of Staff, Mrs Ifeoma Nwobodo, have gone rather psyschotic.

    Despite the fact that the House of Assembly gave express and explicit reasons for its action against the deputy governor, these fellows would have none of it, instead they have continued to generate and circulate fairy tales claiming them to be the real reasons behind the Assembly’s move against Mr Onyebuchi.

    For purposes of clarity, the House upon a motion signed by 22 of its 24 members directed the Clerk of the House to serve an impeachment notice on the Deputy Governor for abuse of office and disobedience to the lawful directives of the governor. The House went ahead to give the particulars and details of the offences. In the first instance, it stated that the Deputy had in flagrant disregard of an existing law in the state, continued to maintain and operate a commercial poultry farm within the premises of his official residential quarters; and further refused to carry out the directives of the relevant officials of the government, including the governor himself, to remove the poultry.

    Instead of carrying out the directive, the deputy governor invited the press to ridicule his own government and its principal officiers. On the second charge the Assembly had this to say, “The deputy governor habitually refuses, fails and or neglects to carry out and or perform the functions of his office as directed by the governor  pursuant to section 193 (1) of the Constitution, without any excuse. Details of this manifest breach of the Constitution as aforesaid include the following:

    (a) On the 11th day of March, 2014, the deputy governor was directed by the governor to represent him (i.e. the governor) at the flag-off ceremony of the construction of the 2nd Niger Bridge in Onitsha by the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation of Nigeria, His Excellency, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan; but the deputy governor refused to attend the ceremony.

    (b)    The deputy governor also blatantly refused to represent the governor at the South-East Governors Forum, held at The Lion Building, Enugu on Sunday, 6th of July, 2014, despite the express directive of the governor to represent him at the Forum.

    (c)    The deputy governor persists in his defiance of lawful directives issued to him by the governor, which defiance has adversely affected and will continue to affect the smooth running of the government; and he will continue to do so if not removed from office.

    Still, the Assembly, accorded the deputy governor his statutory right to fair hearing by giving him 7 days to respond to the charges.

    However, even as unambiguous and explicit as these charges are, the hack writers would rather chose to claim that the deputy governor’s impeachment woes are a result of his intention to contest the Enugu East-Senatorial elections against the Chief of Staff, Mrs Nwobodo.

    This claim is as nonsensical as it is puerile and clearly portrays the hollowness and pettiness of its creators. Aside from the fact that it would have been the first time that many people, including the electorate in Enugu East, were to learn that the deputy governor was interested in the senatorial contest, one would find it difficult to understand how his removal from office would stop him from participating in the contest-assuming he is really interested.

    I refrain from making judgment on the political heft of the deputy governor in the state (as to warrant a sinister plot to stop him)  but suffice it to say that whether  or not he remained in office as deputy governor, he cannot be prevented from pursuing his ambitions if any. Therefore, seeking to remove him for the said reason would only amount to chasing shadows or window dressing.  I don’t believe that the Chime administration and its officers have time for such frivolities.

    Rather than shadow boxing and trying to dodge the real issues, any reasonable person would rather be concerned about the veracity or otherwise of the charges against the deputy governor.

    Did he or did he not commit those offences and are the offences not enough to warrant his removal?  Could anyone in all honesty expect that a principal would continue to trust a second in command who flagrantly disregards laws and his own instructions.  Could any responsible House of Assembly sit by and watch such impunity and impudence fester in the executive arm to such extent as to threaten the government’s relationship with other governments, including the Federal Government? Could anyone imagine what questions could have assailed the mind of President Goodluck Jonathan when he discovered that Enugu State was not represented at the flag-off of the second Niger Bridge?Or could one imagine how the governors of other South-East states would have felt when they attended a meeting in Enugu only to discover that their hosts were absent?

    Ever since he became the governor of Enugu State, Sullivan has shown himself to be a very tolerant and patient man even  to his own detriment. He has weathered all manner of plots, abuses, insults and assaults from his enemies but had rather than join them in the trenches, remained true to his mission of transforming the state. He has endured treachery and subterfuge from close associates but remained ever focused on his job.

     

     

  • PDP’s desperation to remain in power is cause of impeachment, says lawmaker

    PDP’s desperation to remain in power is cause of impeachment, says lawmaker

    A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly representing Ikorodu 2, Hon. Adebimpe Akinsola, has described the ongoing spate of impeachment in the country as an attempt by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to remain in power by all means.

    She stated this at the weekly ‘Time out with the press’ organised by Lagos Assembly correspondents for lawmakers which took place at the Assembly complex yesterday.

    Akinsola said: “It is a calculated attempt by one party to remain in power ‘by fire and by force’, and I don’t think this impeachment saga will help. It will only contribute to the problems that we have in Nigeria”.

    Asserting that democracy in any clime is better than any other form of government, the lawmaker admonished the perpetrators to stop forthwith because with the way they are going about it now, anything can happen.

    “I want Nigerians to rise up and tell the perpetrators of this evil that we need our democracy in Nigeria to succeed. This is not the type of democracy that we want. We don’t want people to impose themselves on us. If people say they don’t want you, go and examine yourself. Sit down, do an appraisal of yourself and you can be useful in any other area.

    “We cannot run the government of Nigeria as our own personal business. Nigeria belongs to all of us and every citizen of the country is entitled to vie or run for any position in Nigeria. People should not take it as their own personal business”, Akinsola said.

    She advised those engaging in impeachment “because of money or whatever” to think of their tomorrow and the future of their children and the legacy they want people to remember them with.

    “They should think of their children and what will become of their children tomorrow. If they feel that their children are abroad today and so they can do anything, they will still come back tomorrow to reap what we have sown in Nigeria. They should be careful and desist forthwith,” she said.

  • Aspirant condemns Nyako’s impeachment

    governorship aspirant on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State, Mr. Nath Ikeocha has berated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for its alleged involvement in the impeachment of Adamawa State Governor Murtala Nyako.

    Speaking to reporters in Aba, Ikeocha, a lawyer, criticized what he called the “heavy financial inducement” by the PDP hierarchy to lure and railroad members of the state assembly into taking an “unpatriotic decision and grossly abusing the democratic culture”.

    He equally blamed members of the Adamawa State legislature for allowing themselves to be cheaply used for such undemocratic act.

    Ikeocha said: “I am shocked over the impeachment of Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa by the state lawmakers especially when it becomes obvious that such was orchestrated by the PDP. It is unfortunate that democracy which we fought restore is brazenly threatened by a few desperate power mongers for selfish reasons. Besides the fact Nyako’s impeachment represents a clear case of impunity and dictatorship, it also undermines our democratic advancement which no doubt makes mockery of Nigeria in the comity of nations”.

    He also subscribed entirely to the position of the national leadership of the APC to challenge the impeachment in court, arguing that the exercise would definitely not stand owing to what he described as ‘obvious breach of constitutional provisions’.

    While condemning corruption by public office holders including state governors, the governorship hopeful insisted that Nyako was removed on political grounds by the PDP to reclaim the state from the back door.

    Ikeocha, however, commended the newly elected national executive of the party expressing optimism that APC under Chief John Oyegun would lead the party to victory in 2015 elections.

    On the crisis rocking the party in Abia State, Ikeocha appealed to various factions to jettison rancour and bitterness and close ranks in order to build a formidable platform that will end the PDP government in the state.

    “It is unfortunate that our party members are still disagreeing on quite a number of issues. It is also a known fact that the national leadership of our party has acknowledged that no congress took place in Abia State.

    “While we expect our leaders to address the problem as quickly as possible, it is expressly binding on us to come together and build a formidable platform bearing in mind the huge task of defeating the ruling PDP. We should not also allow our personal interest to override that of our great party considering the fact that our ultimate goal is to take over governance for the greater benefit of our members and the good people of Abia state,” he said.

  • Impeachment as political whiplash

    Last week, Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa state, finally got the boot from the state house of assembly. According to reports, the former Governor and his party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) instead of being despondent, remain defiant, and have vowed to challenge the governor’s impeachment in court. Their argument is that the process was fraught with irregularities, and had failed to meet the requirement of section 188 of the 1999 constitution, as amended. The party also contends that President Goodluck Jonathan has turned the scepter of impeachment, into a political arsenal, to destroy his political opponents, and that Adamawa is just the first of the several minefields that the PDP led federal government has planted.

    Without doubt, the Governor and his party are entitled to challenge the alleged infractions in court. That will be in tandem with the pronouncement of Chukwuma-Eneh JCA (as he then was),       in Adeleke vs Oyo State House of Assembly, when he held: “The court is empowered by section 1(3) of the constitution to pronounce null and void any acts of the executive or legislature including any purported legislative acts done under section 188 … where the acts are inconsistent with the constitution as the supreme law”. According to the learned Justice, “A legislative act done in the process of removing of governor or deputy governor is legally passed where it has complied strictly with the procedure prescribe under section 188”.

    The inviolable integrity of the constitution was affirmed by the Supreme Court in Attorney General, Abia State vs Attorney General, Federation, by Tobi JSC when he averred: “ The constitution of a nation is the fons et origo, not only of the jurisprudence but also of the legal system of the nation. It is the beginning and the end of the legal system…. In line with this kingly position of the constitution, all the three arms of government are slaves of the constitution, not in the sense of undergoing servitude or bondage, but in the sense of total obeisance and loyalty to it.” So it is the duty of the courts to critically examine the impeachment process in Adamawa state with respect to the provisions of section 188; and where there is any irregularity, the court should not hesitate to shoot down the impeachment, after as Akaahs JCA heldin Dapianlong vs Dariye (No. 1) “The impeachment of a Governor is a serious business and must not be reduced to child’s play.”

    Further down Adamawa, closer to Abuja, the seat of the federal government, controlled by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which is enjoying a sudden risorgemento, the Governor of Nasarawa state, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, another APC state, has been served impeachment notice by the PDP controlled house of assembly. Again, according to the national chairman of the national opposition party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, the PDP led federal government has also primed its impeachment arsenal against the governors of Edo, Borno and Rivers state. If the PDP as alleged succeeds in this unconstitutional gambit, then by what may be described as a sleight of hand, the party would have a clear national majority going into the fearful 2015 ‘do or die’ general elections.

    Commentators across the country have been distraught that the present national political odyssey have followed similar trajectory as the previously doomed democratic experiments in the 1960’s and 1980’s. Recall that the Northern Peoples Congress controlling the national legislature in the post-independence parliamentary democracy, increasingly became obsessed with retaining their majority as the 1964 general elections approached, and in their desperation, short-cuts, under-cuts and upper-cuts were employed. Similar tactics were also employed by the National Party of Nigeria, the national ruling party in the second republic, and while the party was able to capture quite a number of states from the opposition parties in the 1983 general ‘landslide’ election, the resultant seismic tremor took decades to settle.

    So, should we carelessly ride on that road again? My contention is that President Jonathan and his party must in the interest of our tottering democracy examine the allegations of the opposition, and if they are responsible for this gale of impeachments, should immediately apply the brakes. While the impeachment of a political office holder is a legitimate political weapon to deal with recalcitrant public officials within a polity, it becomes an undemocratic invasion, when forces beyound the precincts of a polity, induces and enforces impeachment as a means to settle political differences. Indeed President Jonathan, who is from a minority political sub-group, must be careful not to employ any underhand tactics in his political gamesmanship, to avoid the majority learning from him, and resorting to the same game against him in the future.

    Even more pressing is that the resort to impeachment as a political whiplash may so unsettle the polity as to lead to major national crisis. Just as I pen this piece, it was reported that the civil society in Nasarawa state and the leaders of APC across the country were mobilizing to challenge the threat of impeachment against governor Al-Makura. If history is any guide, the crisis that culminated in the Nigerian civil war started with the undisguised attempt of the then majority party, the Northern Peoples Congress, to forcefully expand their political horizon across the country, particularly in the south-west. It will be foolhardy to pretend that the national fault-lines have substantially changed from that of the 1960’s.

    I therefore urge President Jonathan and his party apparatchik not to be cajoled, by the hawks amongst them, into falsely believing that all is well with an obtrusive interference with the political fortunes of any part of the country, in a manner that could trigger national crisis. As former President Obasanjo learnt, Nigeria has its way of dealing with political chicanery.

  • APC: impeachment plot against Amaechi will fail

    APC: impeachment plot against Amaechi will fail

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has said any impeachment plot against Governor Rotimi Amaechi will fail.

    It said God who has been protecting him all these years, will “surely” see him to the end of his tenure on May 29, next year.

    The party lauded the governor’s commitment to serve the people.

    The APC, through its state Chairman, Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, said the defection of 24 members of the House of Assembly from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC was a step in the right direction.

    The Felix Obuah-led Rivers PDP, on April 29 last year, suspended all the pro-Amaechi lawmakers from the party.

    The party said:”We are confident that God will not allow the evil machinations of the PDP to materialise. One thing going for Amaechi is that having spent eight years as Speaker of the House of Assembly and four years as the Leader of the Speakers’ Forum in Nigeria, he is in a better position to understand legislative power games.

    “We should also appreciate the fact that apart from politics, most of the lawmakers are his colleagues and political associates, who are too principled to sell out at this crucial time.

    “ Amaechi and the lawmakers have come a long way. These lawmakers and the governor share the same political fate. They were all members of the PDP and were all suspended from the party.

    “The lawmakers are all victims of PDP’s brutality and high-handedness. Governor Amaechi and the G-25 lawmakers detest evil, greed and politics without principle.

    “We make bold to say that Rivers APC lawmakers are not only progressives and God-fearing democrats, but most importantly, true sons of Rivers State, who will not join our enemies to cause any confusion in the state.

    “These enemies of democracy have demonstrated their hatred for our governor and Rivers State. It is our duty to ensure that they do not come here to scuttle everything that Amaechi has achieved for the state and its people.

    “We are pleased to congratulate the 24 lawmakers, who declared for the APC. By so doing, they have demonstrated that they are true progressives, who are resolutely committed to an egalitarian, virile and vibrant Rivers State.”

  • Nyako’s impeachment:Nigeria is descending into fascism, says Tinubu

    Nyako’s impeachment:Nigeria is descending into fascism, says Tinubu

    National leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, yesterday  lashed out at President  Goodluck Jonathan for encouraging fascism in the polity.

    Reviewing the events culminating in this week’s  impeachment of  Alhaji Murtala Nyako as governor of Adamawa State by the State Assembly, Tinubu  said the development is a setback for Nigeria’s democracy.

    “Under the constitution, a governor can only be impeached for ‘gross misconduct.’ For the PDP, Nyako’s crime was not the false allegations contained in the articles of impeachment. To them, his gross misconduct was leaving the reactionary PDP to join the progressive APC. His misdeed was to exercise his constitutional right of freedom of association and political expression by leaving their corrupt assemblage and joining the party that just may represent the best hope of rescuing Nigeria from its present descent into authoritarian darkness,” he said in a statement in Lagos.

    Continuing, Tinubu said: “Perhaps, Governor Nyako’s greatest sin is his temerity to speak truth to power albeit in a courageous way. On two different occasions, he gave an unvarnished insight into the Boko Haram menace and the insecurity engulfing Northern Nigeria.

    “At the Institute of Peace in Washington DC, this year when he visited with other Northern governors, he placed the blame for the Boko Haran insurgency on the Jonathan presidency. He then followed this up with a detailed letter to the forum of the Northern governors, in which he accused the Jonathan-led government of genocide against the North.

    “This rattled and unsettled the government. Repeated attempts to have Gov. Nyako withdraw his letter and apologize to the President failed. From the moment he wrote that letter, he became a marked man. The government savaged the governor through the media.

    “This kangaroo impeachment is government’s way of punishing Nyako. The plan is to use the contents of the letter he wrote to the Northern Governors as a basis to try him for treasonable felony and eventually sentence him to life imprisonment. Nyako’s frank, if rough-edged, letter concerning the security situation apparently infuriated the monarch of Aso Villa who has become so arrogant as to believe no opposition against him is justified, thus he has the liberty to impose his brand of injustice to crush those who oppose him.

    “Before our eyes and under Jonathan’s watch, Nigeria gradually descends into fascism. We must all act now before it consumes us al” Tinubu said.

    The former Lagos State governor also deplored  the President’s handling of the abduction of the Chibok girls by Boko Haram, especially his refusal to see the parents of the girls until  the recent visit to Nigeria of the Pakistani pupil activist, Malala.

  • Maigari escapes impeachment

    • NFF promises reconciliations • Wants FG to probe football house • Ready to unban Ogunjobi, Baribote 

    The Excutive Board of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) resumed its duties yesterday by holding its first official meeting since the lifting of FIFA’s suspension of Nigeria that was caused by a Jos High Court sacking of the Board.

    The much anticipated impeachment of NFF president Aminu Maigari did not happen, instead all the aggrieved parties were prevailed on to sheathe their swords and reconcile in the interest of Nigerian football, according to NFF spokesman, Emeka Inyama.

    Inyama, a board member and chairman of the Nigeria National League (NNL) revealed what transpired during the meeting.

    “I am happy to announce to you the full resumption of the Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation. The Management and indeed the Congress is back to the business of Nigerian football.

    “The 12 members of the Executive Board of the Nigerian Football Federation have been deliberating because one of us travelled abroad and we have resolved to move Nigerian football forward. All issues that are likely to cause any conflicts were discussed and we have agreed that we have to make sacrifices to move the game forward in the country.

    “We are indeed appreciative to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for his quick intervention and also the Minister of Sports for his fatherly role in ensuring the vacation of the (Court) order that has returned the Executive Committee and all other bodies concerned in the court order. The Board will be paying a visit to the Honourable Minister.

    “There will be an official board meeting come Thursday next week, which is 24th July, 2014. Today’s meeting is just an interactive meeting where we had  afrank talk, heart-to-heart discussions.

    “We read so much in the social media that there is division in the NFF and that people are going to fight and that one body would be impeached and another body would be suspended. But there is no such thing. We are one full body for the good of Nigerian football, and for the good of the youths of this country all sacrifices must be made.

    “We also want to appeal to all aggrieved parties to sheathe swords and make positive contributions to Nigerian football. The election will soon be here and it will be thrown open. Nobody will be shut out of the election. It is open to all qualified Nigerians to take part in.”

    Inyama also asked for a probe of the finances of the NFF. “Finally, the Board as a responsible organization has also heard about money issues and we have resolved to encourage the Federal Government to set up a probe into the finances of the Nigeria Football Federation so that the issue will be put to rest once and for all. The body is ready to account for all monies given to it. We also feel it is only fair to hear the other side of the party before finally concluding. So, we want this probe so that the credibility of Nigeria will be restored,” he clarified.

    The NNL boss concluded by sending an olive branch to banned members like Taiwo Ogunjobi and Victor Rumson Baribote, concerning their re-absorption to the NFF.

    “Arising from the withdrawal of the case from court, we return to status quo. Every matter taken before now is null and void,” he said.

  • Maigari survives impeachment

    Maigari survives impeachment

    The Executive Board of the Nigeria Football Federation bounced back to action yesterday as the Board held their first official meeting after the FIFA suspension of Nigeria which was caused by a Jos High Court that initially sacked the NFF Board.

    The much anticipated impeachment of the NFF President did not happen as instead all aggrieved parties sheathed their swords and reconciled in the interest of Nigerian Football according to NFF spokesman, High Chief Emeka Inyama.

    Inyama, A Board member and Chairman of the Nigeria National League revealed what transpired during the meeting.

    “I am happy to announce to you the full resumption of the Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation. The Management and indeed the Congress is back to the business of the Nigerian football.

    The 12 members of the Executive Board of the Nigeria Football Federation have been deliberating because one of us travelled abroad and we have resolved to move Nigerian football forward. All issues that are likely to cause any conflicts is discussed and we have agreed that we have to make sacrifices to move the game forward in the country.

    “We are indeed appreciative to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for his quick intervention and also the Minister of Sports for his fatherly role in ensuring the vacation of the (Court) order that have returned the Executive Committee and all other bodies concerned in the court order. The Board will be paying a visit to the Honourable Minister.

    “There will be an official Board meeting come Thursday next week which is 24th July, 2014. Today’s meeting is just an interactive meeting where he had frank talk, heart to heart discussions.

    “We read so much in the social media that there is division in the NFF and that people are going to fight and that one body would be impeached and another body will be suspended. But there is not such thing. We are one full body for the good of Nigerian football and for the good of the youths of this country all sacrifices must be made.

    “We also want to appeal to all aggrieved parties to sheath swords and make positive contributions to Nigerian football. The election will soon be here and it will be thrown open. Nobody will be shut out of the election. It is opened to all qualified Nigerians to take part in.

    Inyama also asked for probe of the finances of the NFF. “Finally, the Board as a responsible organization has also heard about money issue and we have resolved to encourage the Federal Government to set up a probe into the finances of the Nigeria Football Federation so that the issue will be put to rest once and for all. The body is ready to account for all monies given to it. We also feel it is only fair to hear the other side of the party be fore finally concluding. So we want this probe so that the credibility of Nigeria will be restored”, he clarified.