NFF Hands 5-Year Ban To Chris Giwa, Others

This was part of decisions arrived at after the disciplinary committee of the NFF concluded their meeting yesterday, in Abuja.

He was given the ban alongside four members of his group, Muazu Suleyman, Yahaya Adama, Sani Fema and Johnson Effiong with immediate effect.

They were handed the ban in relation to the contest for the leadership of Nigerian football.

After reviewing the charges, available facts and evidence, the NFF Disciplinary Committee issued the following verdicts:

I. That Christopher Giwa, Muazu Suleyman, Yahaya Adama, Sani Fema and Johnson Effiong are found guilty of illegally representing the NFF in breach of Art. 40 of the NFF Statutes, when they without due authorization and mandate purported to contract a Law Firm, Messrs Leslie Cohen & Associates of Illovo Law Chambers, 4 Fricker Road, Ground Floor, South Africa in the name of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and refused to pay for services whereby the said Messrs Leslie Cohen & Associates commenced proceedings against the NFF for the sum of $100000 being legal fees for professional services rendered in the High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Local Division, Johannesburg.

II. That Christopher Giwa, Muazu Suleyman, Yahaya Adama, Sani Fema and Johnson Effiong are found guilty of breaching Art. 69(1) of the NFF Statutes by taking football matters to the ordinary court and failing to submit to the jurisdiction of FIFA and the NFF.

III. That there is insufficient particulars and evidence submitted to establish the charge of threats, unguarded, uncouth and uncivilized statements in the media against the NFF, brought against Christopher Giwa, Muazu Suleyman, Yahaya Adama, Sani Fema and Johnson Effiong

IV. That Christopher Giwa is guilty of breach of the general rules of conduct as contained in Art. 13 of the FIFA Code of Ethics when he invaded the premises of the Nigeria Football Federation and falsely presented himself as President of the NFF on 6th May, 2016.

V. That Christopher Giwa, Muazu Suleyman, Yahaya Adama, Sani Fema and Johnson Effiong are found guilty of failing to comply fully with the Statutes, regulations, directives and decisions of FIFA and NFF in contravention of Art. 13 1(a) of NFF Statutes 2010 in relation to the NFF Election held in Warri Delta State on 30th September, 2014.

VI. That Christopher Giwa, Muazu Suleyman, Yahaya Adama, Sani Fema and Johnson Effiong are in breach of fiduciary and loyalty as contained in Art. 15 of FIFA Code of Ethics 2012 by carrying out various deliberate acts and conducts capable of attracting a ban from FIFA on the NFF capable of putting the administration and development of football in Nigeria into jeopardy.

Recall that on April 8, 2016, a Federal High Court sitting in Jos, Plateau State, allegedly ordered the current NFF president Amaju Pinnick to step down in favour of Giwa who is to take charge temporarily.

The court ruling reignited the problem in the NFF, with Giwa and his group trying to invade the premises of the Nigeria Football Federation but for the intervention of security forces who were at alert to block the take-over.

Fifa last month threatened to ban the NFF from all international engagements if the court injunction was carried out.