By Dipo Olowookere
Nigeria may have finally escape the wrath of world governing body for football, FIFA, which threatened to ban the nation from football-related matters if it fails to recognise the board of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) led by its President, Mr Amaju Pinnick.
FIFA forbids football related matters be taken to local court, but one Mr Chris Giwa took the NFF to a court in Jos, Plateau State, contesting the leadership of Mr Pinnick.
He had taken over the office of the local football governing body in Abuja, claiming a Supreme Court judgment made him the authentic leader of NFF with the backing of the Minister of Youth and Sport, Mr Solomon Dalung.
But FIFA, in a letter to Nigeria, warned that if by Monday, August 20, 2018, the NFF headquarters was not handed over back to Mr Pinnick, which it recognises as the NFF President, Nigeria would be suspended from the federation.
To avert this, the Nigerian government announced recognising Mr Pinnick as the NFF President.
This was confirmed on Monday in a tweet by Mr Laolu Akande, spokesman of the Vice President, Mr Yemi Osinbajo,.
“The FG has already conveyed to FIFA its firm position recognizing Amaju Pinnick-led NFF as the current and only NFF Exco.
“Govt will also continue to work with all relevant stakeholders involved to resolve dispute in a timely manner. FG is upholding NFF treaty obligations to FIFA,” the Presidency said.