HIGH COURT STOPS NFF ELECTIONS

By NBF News

Siasia
An Ilorin High Court has stopped elections into the executive board of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) scheduled for August 21. The court ordered the postponement of the elections pending the determination of a suit brought before it by one Taofik Babatunde challenging the timing.

But in a swift reaction to the court injunction, Vice President of the NFF, Obinna Ogba, said that the federation had not received any court papers.

Ogba said: 'We have not received any court papers. It is mere rumour. But if we see any paper from the court, the board will meet and we shall take a decision on it. For now, every candidate is on the field campaigning.'

But theĀ  National Sports Commission (NSC) has revealed that there was really a motion on notice from an Ilorin High Court which was forwarded to the NFF by the D-G, Dr Patrick Ekeji.

The Motion on Notice dated August 12, 2010 was marked Suit No. FXC:/IL/CS/31/2010 and addressed to the Acting General Secretary of the Federation. The suit: Taofic Babatunde Vs Nigeria Football Association and three others is seeking the order of the court to halt the August 21 election.

The court ruled that it lacked jurisdiction to hear the case and has consequently transferred it to an Abuja High Court.

Key stakeholders have called for postponment of the elections to allow the state FA elections to hold first.