Sports
NFF Controversy: Pinnick Returns to Court
The FIFA recognised chairman of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, has asked a court to vacate its order that sacked him from office.
Following his requeest, the Jos Federal High Court on Wednesday fixed July 10 for hearing the motions filed by Mr Pinnick, challenging the exparte order it granted Chris Giwa, who has assumed office as president of the federation.
Mr Pinnick approached the court for the relief after the Nigerian government implemented the order of the high court.
Musa Kurya, the presiding judge in the case between Yahaya Adama and Aminu Maigari had, on June 5, made an exparte order asking Mr Pinnick’s NFF leadership to vacate the Glass House for the Giwa-led executive.
Based on the order, the sports minister, Solomon Dalung, said he had been advised by the justice ministry to ensure the NFF complies with the order.
But Mr Pinnick, through his counsel, Festus Keyamo, stormed the court on Wednesday with two motions demanding the vacation of the order granted Mr Giwa and others, pending the determination of an application challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the case.
Though the case was heard in the chamber, the two counsel in the matter spoke to journalists shortly after.
Festus Ukpe, who stood in for Mr Keyamo, explained: “We came to court to challenge the order which the court gave to Giwa led Exco.
“Our aim or intention was to move our two motions, but the counsel to Adama and Ogba, Mr Habila Ardzard, opposed it on the ground that they only got possession of the motions today (Wednesday).
“We told the judge that there was need for the court to hear these motions because of our fear of what Giwa will do in these few days that he claims he has power over Glass House.
“That is why we argued that there was the need for the judge to vacate his order since we were not given fair hearing in the matter, which we are not a party to but for our interest.’’
Mr Ukpe said that after both sides made their submissions, the judge ruled and fixed July 10 for the hearing of the motions because of the urgency.
Also, Mr Ardzard said he had to oppose Mr Pinnick from moving the motions “because by law, we are entitled to seven days within which we could study the motion and reply from the date of its receipt.
“We were only asked to come to court today and when we came we were told that there were two motions which Pinnick’s counsel intended to move today (Wednesday).
“Of course, we had to oppose it and the court finally ruled in our favour and therefore, fixed July 10 for the hearing of the motions’’.
Nonetheless, the order granted Mr Giwa subsists until Tuesday, July 10 when the motions would be heard on their merit.
Mr Keyamo has repeatedly argued that Nigeria risks a FIFA ban if the world body interprets the sports ministry’s action as interfering in football matters.
FIFA has repeatedly warned countries not to interfere in football matters.
Mr Giwa, however, says there is no chance of FIFA sanctioning Nigeria.
Premium Times
Sports
CAF Crowns Ademola Lookman As African Footballer of the Year
Super Eagles winger, Ademola Lookman, has been named the CAF Footballer of the Year for the past year.
Lookman was announced as the winner at an elaborate event in Marrakech, Morocco on Monday night.
The Atalanta star won the prize ahead of Ivory Coast’s Simon Adingra and PSG’s Achraf Hakimi, Guinea striker Serhou Guirassy and South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
It has been an incredible year for Lookman, who became the first player to score a hat-trick in the Europa League/UEFA Cup final since 1975, netting the three goals within 26 minutes against Bayer Leverkusen.
Lookman was included in the Team of the Year for the Europa League, and ended the season having had a direct hand in 18 top flight goals for La Dea.
The 27-year-old was ranked the 14th best player during the Ballon d’Or gala on October 28.
Sports
Panel Clears Mbappe of Rape Allegation
The Swedish Prosecution Authority announced today that the inquiry into rape allegations against French footballer Kylian Mbappé has been closed due to a lack of sufficient evidence to proceed.
This is according to multiple reports on Thursday morning.
The allegations had drawn international attention, casting a shadow over the football star’s career.
Mbappé, who had consistently denied the allegations, has yet to make an official statement regarding the decision
His legal team had previously emphasised his commitment to due process.
Mbappe was “linked to rape investigation in Sweden” and that he intended to reserve any explanations for the Swedish justice system “if necessary,” according to his lawyer, Marie-Alix Canu-Bernard.
“He prioritises providing his explanations, if required, to the Swedish judiciary,” Canu-Bernard told AFP, while strongly condemning “media allegations suggesting that Kylian Mbappé had commented on the events of his trip to Stockholm.”
The case, which began earlier this year, involved accusations stemming from an alleged incident in Stockholm. The prosecutor’s decision not to press charges marks the end of months of scrutiny and speculation.
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