NFF: Why Maigari Was Removed!
By Abiodun Elegbede
NIgeria Football Federation, NFF, on Monday while replying FIFA letter exposed why Chairman of NFF, Aminu Maigari and his board were sacked.
According to the letter, where NFF defended the dissolution of the board , another letter was written, detailing why operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS) invite Maigari for questioning on arrival from Brazil.
NFF in the letter, told FIFA that government of Nigeria want Maigari to account for N2. 6 billion released to him for the 2014 World Cup and the N2.8 billion left in the Federation coffers by his predecessor, Sani Lulu Abdullahi, as well as hundreds of million naira he receives as monthly allocation from government.
A powerful Federal Government delegation NigerianEcho learnt is also billed to meet with the leadership of FIFA to reassure them that government would not interfere in the running of football but only concerns with gross misappropriation of funds.
FIFA had at the news of NFF board dissolution described the development “very worrisome and an undue interference” in a letter signed by its Secretary General, Jerome Valcke.
It reiterated its resolve not to recognise “any person or organ not elected in compliance with the NFF Statues (Article 17, par 2 and 3 of FIFA Statues) and therefore will not consider the appointment made by the Minister of Sports.
“We ask that you respectfully inform the relevant authorities that if the aforementioned NFF officials are not fully reinstated by Tuesday, July 8, 2014, we will have no choice but to refer the case to the appropriate FIFA organ for sanctions, including the suspension of the NFF”.
It was based on FIFA letter and deadline given that prompted NFF to send a detailed letter to the world Football ruling body. NFF also in their letter stated that, the Extra-Ordinary Congress where Maigari and his board were sacked was convened and conducted in line with NFF Statues.
