Stories By George Aluo
The nation’s soccer governing body, NFF yesterday wielded the big stick by slamming a five- year ban on Chris Giwa and other members of the football family that took their case to a regular court for anti-football activities.
The decision was taken after a meeting of the NFF disciplinary committee in Abuja. The body also upheld all the sanctions imposed on Giwa’s club, Giwa FC by the League Management Company (LMC).
The NFF disciplinary body amongst other things, stated that Giwa and his group breached Article 69 (1) of the NFF Statutes by taking football matters to the ordinary court and failing to submit to the jurisdiction of FIFA and the NFF.
The body further ruled that Giwa, Muazu Suleyman, Yahaya Adama, Sani Fema and Johnson Effiong are in breach of fiduciary and loyalty as contained in Art. 15 of FIFA Code of Ethics 2012 by carrying out various deliberate acts and conducts capable of attracting a ban from FIFA on the NFF capable of putting the administration and development of football in Nigeria into jeopardy.
They were therefore slammed with a five-year ban from all football activities. The disciplinary committee ruling stated in part: “Based on the findings above and in Line with the provision of Art. 65 (3) of the NFF Statutes 2010, the NFF Disciplinary Committee hereby pronounces the following sanctions on the following persons: Christopher Giwa, Muazu Suleyman, Yahaya Adama, Sani Fema and Johnson Effiong are hereby banned from taking part in any football related activity for a period of Five (5) years each.”
On Giwa FC, the NFF disciplinary committee endorsed all the fines imposed on the club by LMC and also approved that the club has lost the games to Rangers and Wikki Tourists.