By Daily Sports on April 13, 2016

The reason behind the presence of security operatives and the sudden closure of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) secretariat in Abuja has been revealed.

According to the Nigeria youth and sports minister, Barrister Solomon Dalung, the NFF offices were placed under the watch of the country's police force to quell any form of trouble that might arise from the tussle over the leadership of the football federation.

Dalung stated that he asked the country's police chief to secure the NFF secretariat as he sensed there could be problems arising from a High Court ruling on Friday nullifying the election of the Amaju Pinnick-led board.

"We discovered that there were plans by some people attempting to take over power. I had to call the inspector-general of police to secure my property for me which is the secretariat and the staff there," Dalung said.

However, the minister added that he is yet to see the court order, and would not want to pre-empt the outcome of the matter though he went ahead to explain that the complainants need to recognise that the defendants have the right to an appeal.

"I have not been served the court order so I cannot speculate. Court orders are factual situations that determine the rights of people, but I've not been served with any. That explains why I cannot speak.

"In any case if there is a court order, that court order gives a right of 30 days of appeal to the person that the statement was given against. So that 30 days must expire first before people can make any move. Otherwise the same court that nullified the election will surely give the other person the right to appeal. So even if there was a court order, as far as I am concerned it must be allowed to follow and complete the full judicial process and the High Court is not the court to make such decision in Nigeria. They must go to the Supreme Court, and whatever the Supreme Court decides on the matter will be final," he said.

Last week, a High Court in Jos declared the election that brought Pinnick and his NFF board into office null and void in a case relisted by the Chris Giwa faction.

On Monday, the world soccer governing body, FIFA, wrote to the Nigeria FA warning that if the court ruling is implemented it would consider it "as an interference in the internal affairs of the NFF and the case would be brought to the highest authorities of FIFA for consideration of sanctions, including the suspension of the NFF. (supersports.com)

- Photo shows Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung

Source Daily Sports

Posted April 13, 2016

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