African champions, Nigeria, could come under an international suspension from the world football governing body, Fifa.
This follows an order from a High Court in Jos, Plateau State restraining the Nigeria Football Federation [NFF] headed by Aminu Maigari, to control, command or manage football matters in the country pending the hearing on the Motion of Notice on July 11.
The order from the court to Maigari and other NFF executive committee members to step aside comes just days after the Super Eagles saw their Fifa World Cup ambition end with a 2-0 defeat to France.
The latest scenario is a deja vu of a 2010 episode when the NFF was dissolved by the Nigerian government.
Fifa did write to the Nigerian government to reverse its decision as it frowns at government intervention in running the sport.
The Nigerian government later rescinded its decision to remove its country's football managers. It also set aside the withdrawal of its national teams from international football for two years.
In the wake of the court order, the Nigeria sports minister, Tamuno Danagogo, appointed Lawrence Katken as sole administrator as the High Court instructed in its injunction this week.
There are now fears that Fifa's suspension looms on the African champions since the world football governing body prohibits any government intervention with its member association.
As at Friday, the NFF president, Maigari, had allegedly been picked up by security operatives for questioning and later released while the football federation's office in the country's capital, Abuja, was under strict surveillance by security men.
The letter addressed to NFF President, Aminu Maigari and entitled, ‘Interference in the internal affairs of the Nigeria Football Federation,’ reads in part: “We have learnt from various sources, and notably Nigerian newspapers, that different actions were taken with regard to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) which are worrisome.
“We understand that the NFF has been served with court processes and that consequently an order restraining the President of the NFF, his executive committee members and the NFF congress from running the affairs of Nigerian football has been granted by a High Court of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“We also take note of your detention carried out by representatives of the Department of Security Service and the latter is looking for other members of the NFF. We notice as well that the Minister of Sport has appointed an assistant director to take charge of the NFF. Finally, it is alleged that the members of the NFF have been convened top attend an Extraordinary Congress on July 5 2014 in Abuja.
“In this regard, we would like to remind you that all FIFA members associations have to manage their affairs independently and without influence of any third parties as clearly stipulated in articles 13, par. 1 and 17, par. 1 of FIFA Statutes. Therefore, the above mentioned actions are preventing the NFF from managing its affairs independently and are considered by FIFA as undue interference in the NFF affairs.”
FIFA said the body would not recognise “any person or organ not elected in compliance with the NFF statutes (article 17, par. 2 and 3 of the FIFA statutes and therefore, will not consider the appointment made by the Minister of Sports.”
It added that the NFF president should inform “the relevant authorities that if the aforementioned NFF officials are not fully reinstated by Tuesday July 8 2014, we will have no choice but to refer the case to the appropriate FIFA organs for sanctions, including the suspension of the NFF.”
The letter lists the effects of the suspension to include that no Nigerian team could have any international sporting contact, as well as neither the NFF nor any of its members or officials could benefit from any development programme, course or training from FIFA or CAF.
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