Solomon Dalung, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development has stated on Thursday that Jos Federal High Court did not by any means instruct Chris Giwa to take over the leadership of the Nigerian Football Association.

 

He made this clarification during a briefing to the House of Representatives Committee on Sports at the National Assembly over the issue of the leadership crisis that bedeviled the NFF.

He furthered that the police have been deployed to protect the perimeter of the NFF but should they fail to keep their duties then he will be left with no choice but to deploy the military.

He said, “The court made it clear that what it did was to give Giwa the right to come back and present his case; the ruling did not give him power to be the NFF president.

“So, legally, both parties are now in court, while FIFA has fired a warning shot to ban Nigeria if anybody effects the Jos High Court ruling.After seeing the situation, I was the one who ordered the police to move and occupy the complex and protect the property since certain forces have been mobilising to occupy the place.

“I moved police in order to protect lives and property and I have consulted widely with so many stakeholders including FIFA for a more advanced advice on how to handle this situation.From the sum total of the advices, I concluded on setting up a committee chaired by former chairman of NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima.

“We also mobilised both lawyers that have served internationally and in FIFA to be part of the committee; however, as I speak to you, the committee has adjourned for one week because of paucity of funds,” Dalung said.