Nigeria: NFF Reacts to Court Order to Arrest Its Officials

The Nigeria Football Federation has decried the alleged attempt on Wednesday to arrest the Chairman of the League Management Company, LMC, Shehu Dikko.

In a press statement, Thursday, the federation said the attempt was in violation of Nigeria's judicial process.

According to the statement, "four persons who introduced themselves as detectives from the FCT Police Command went to the office of the League Management Company (LMC), ostensibly to arrest its Chairman, Shehu Dikko (also NFF 2nd Vice President) and its COO, Salihu Abubakar, allegedly pursuant to a Jos High Court order.

It said the move was illegal, because the orders of a lower court "stand suspended when an appeal has been entered in a higher court and an application for Stay of Execution duly filed."

The federation said the development was part of a plot to derail Nigerian football.

"The entire football family has raised its voice time and again against those plotting to derail our football by using unwarranted and dubious litigation."

"We remain steadfast in our support of the LMC and its officials and we will continue our quest for justice and ensure that Football is the winner at the end of this ugly incident.

"We ask that all clubs, club officials, league officials, football business entrepreneurs and indeed the millions of Nigerian football fans whose interests are affected by this brigandage should remain calm.

"As a Federation, we fully understand the dynamics and intrigues of football laws and civil laws and how we relate with both."

A Federal High Court in Jos had declared Messrs. Dikko and Abubakar wanted for contempt, having failed to carry out its order to reinstate a club, Giwa FC, into the league.

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