Federal Judge Annuls Football Federation Election

San Francisco, Sept 06, (THEWILL) - A Federal High Court on Monday in Lagos annulled the August 26, 2010 election into the board of the Nigerian Football Association, NFA, also known as Nigerian Football Federation (NFF).

Justice Okon Abang ruled that the election was a complete disregard of the court’s previous orders of August 20, 2010 and August 24, 2010, which granted an interim injunction restraining the federation from conduction the election pending the determination of the suit filed by the National Association of Nigerian Footballers, NANF.

"A court order must be obeyed no matter who is concerned. Gone are the days when we were ruled by the rule of might.

"The election into the executive board of the NFF is distasteful, reckless, vindictive, high-handed, a gross abuse of judicial power and gross disregard of the rule of law. The election of August 26, 2010 is hereby nullified and I hold this view that there was no election held on the August 26, 2010, " a furious Justice Abang declared.

The judge ordered the most senior civil servant in the NFF to take over the administration of the football body and thereafter ordered the Inspector general of Police to remove anyone occupying any position at the executive board of the football body.

The dismal performance of the Nigerian Super Eagles at the World Cup in South Africa led to the sack of the board of the football body. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is presently prosecuting some former executives of the federation following reports of misappropriation and embezzlement of funds.