Coup in Nigeria’s football house: NFF President Aminu Maigari impeached, Mike Umeh takes over

News Express |24th Jul 2014 | 4,600
Coup in Nigeria’s football house: NFF President Aminu Maigari impeached, Mike Umeh takes over

The earlier aborted coup in the Glass House has eventually been concluded, with the Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announcing the dismissal of the President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari.

Maigari was impeached this morning in Abuja on the grounds of alleged financial misappropriation, misapplication and maladministration despite running a very successful regime. He took over after Nigeria’s disastrous South Africa 2010 World Cup and led the country to win the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations as well as reach the second round of the Brazil 2014 World cup.

Maigari has been replaced with NFF 1st Vice President, Chief Mike Umeh, who functions as Acting President till the NFF Executive Committee election scheduled to hold on August 26, 2014.

The palace coup comes barely a week after world football governing body, FIFA, lifted the ban it placed on Nigerian Football on grounds of Government interference.

A Plateau court had on July 2 sacked Mr Maigari after hearing a suit filed by Mrs. Ebiakpo Rumson Baribote, Chairman of Nembe City FC, who requested the court to restrain Aminu Maigari and all the committee and congress of the NFF from managing the affairs of football matters in Nigeria.

Hon. Justice P. L Lot of the Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos granted the Order of Interlocutory Injunction restraining the President of the NFF, the Executive Committee members, as well as the NFF Congress from running affairs of Nigerian football pending the determination of the Motion on Notice before the court.

The Nigerian Government promptly appointed an acting sole administrator for the NFF but the threat of expulsion by FIFA forced a review of strategy by the anti-Maigari forces and his recall.

FIFA had, in reaction to this, suspended Nigeria from football activities, for what the World Football governing body termed as government’s interference in the affairs of the NFF. The suit was later withdrawn in order to make FIFA withdraw the sanction.

•Photo shows former NFF President Aminu Maigari.

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