FA chiefs disagree over Maigari sacking

A majority of the general assembly of the Nigeria Football Federation has rejected the impeachment of Aminu Maigari as president of the federation, reports AFP.

This came less than two weeks after world football’s governing body FIFA lifted a suspension on Nigeria over alleged government interference that saw the sports minister Dr. Tammy Danagogo appoint a caretaker administrator for the NFF.

A total of 26 state FA chairmen, who make up more than 50 percent of the 44-member congress in line with NFF statutes, resolved at a pre-general assembly that Maigari should remain president of the NFF and he should immediately return to office.

The FA chiefs argued that Maigari’s purported dismissal did not follow laid down procedures. They also dismissed the allegations of financial improprieties and maladministration against the embattled NFF boss.

The Nigeria Football Federation has however claimed that the meeting was illegal.

“There was no Congress at all, and we urge Nigerians to ignore the so-called decisions contained in the document. A properly constituted NFF Congress would be convoked at a date to be made known to the public soon,” Chief Mike Umeh, NFF Acting President, said in Abuja.

An extraordinary congress slated for Abuja on Thursday, which was to endorse Maigari’s impeachment, was on Wednesday shelved by the NFF executive committee due to what an official statement said were “unforeseen circumstances”.

But observers said the postponement was because those pushing for Maigari’s removal “did not have the numbers” that would ratify the move.

The Abuja hotel where a majority of the congress were staying ahead of the meeting was sealed off by security operatives on Thursday.

Elections to the executive committee of the NFF have been fixed for August 26.