Nigeria Football Federation: Sports Minister Dalung insists that Giwa is still president, says DSS actions are against the law

Despite the intervention on President Buhari, Dalung is still insisting on the orders of the court.

Nigeria’s Sports Minister Solomon Dalung is insisting that Chris Giwa is still the president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) after the DSS ejected his administration.

On Monday, July 23 DSS officials ejected the Chris Giwa led administration under the orders of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Minister has, however, come out to state that the issue between Giwa and the Amaju Pinnick led administration can only be resolved by the court.

He described the actions of the DSS as were against the law and steps will be taken to follow the rule of law accordingly.

 

In a statement made public by the Minister, Dalung highlighted that even the President does not have the authority to go against the law which ruled in favour of Giwa.

The statement reads, “What happened in the NFF is security excesses, but it will be sorted out.

“As far as I am concerned, nothing has changed. There is no development after the Supreme Court ruling of April 27, 2018, and the Federal High Court Order of 5th June 2018 because the court has not vacated the order.

“Those who are presently trying to instigate confusion, using the name of the President must be aware that the President cannot go against the rule of law.”

The Pinnick led administration have thanked the President for his intervention on the issue, but Dalung was adamant that the President may not have played a part in the issue.

He said, “The order issued by the court has not been vacated and the President cannot vacate a court order because there are clear-cut processes of doing that.”

“We want to assure Nigerians that Government is sorting out the grey areas but nobody should drag the name of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria into this.

“The President is an advocate of the rule of law and he cannot be associated with the security excesses of a breach of the rule of law.”

The Minister, however, urged stakeholders to not panic as the issues within the administration will be resolved soon.

“The federal government is urging members of the public to remain calm as it is doing its best to resolve the crises in the Nigeria Football Federation.”

“The Ministry of Youth and Sports Development has already initiated a process of trying to bring the stakeholders together, to work out a roadmap out of this quagmire.”

“The stakeholders’ meeting billed for Tuesday, July 24, 2018, will still go ahead as planned.”

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has already stated the world governing body only recognizes the Amaju Pinnick led board.