http://africanfootball.mtnfootball.com/live/content.php?Item_ID=34176


[size=16pt]Court dismisses NFF case[/size]

October 4, 2010

A Lagos High Court Monday dismissed a case of contempt brought against several officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in respect of elections into the association’s elections in August.

A group referred to as the National Association of Nigerian Footballers (NANF) had dragged the newly elected board of the NFF to court for allegedly defying a court not to proceed with the polls of August 26.

Among the officials facing the contempt charge were FIFA executive Amos Adamu, NFF president Aminu Maigari, his vice-president, Mike Umeh as well as acting secretary-general of the NFF, Musa Amadu.

However, on Monday Justice Okon Abang ruled that NANF could not provide substantial evidence that the officials defied the court’s order.

"The Judge struck off the case, saying the appellant could not prove their case beyond reasonable doubt," said Emmanuel Attah, one of the officials arraigned before the court for contempt.

Officials informed MTNFootball.com that the court will now go ahead and determine the substantive case of nullifying the August 26 elections.

Based on the case brought by NANF, the elected board of the NFF led by Aminu Maigari have not been able to operate because the Lagos High Court ruled that the elections were null and void.

A legal expert told MTNFootball.com: "The NFF lawyers could now apply for an accelerated hearing so that even this case is determined soon."

World football governing body, FIFA, have already ordered the NFF to sanction the “offending” group that has dragged Nigerian football to a civil court.