NFF Election: Supreme Court orders retrial of Pinnick, Giwa case

The Supreme Court of Nigeria on Friday ordered for the relisting  of the case between Nigeria Football Federation President Amaju Pinnick and  factional leader, Chris Giwa at the Federal High Court Jos.

It ruled that only the High Court can rule on the case. It has also called for a speedy trial.

This was made known through the lead judgment of a five-man panel which was written by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN,) Justice Walter Onnoghen, but read by Justice Ejembi Eko on Friday.

The Supreme Court held that the Appeal Court which gave judgment in favour of Pinnick  did not follow the principles of law.

SportingLife.ng reports that Giwa and his board had dragged the FIFA-recognised Pinnick-led board to the Supreme Court, to set aside the verdict of the Appeal Court after they had won at the High Court.

Giwa is insisting that he is the duly elected NFF President as a result of the mandate given to his group by the congress of the NFF in August 26 2014.

Football governing body, FIFA who were watching events in Nigeria banned Giwa and his group in 2016 from all football related matters.

It remains to be seen if the latest development will affect Nigeria’s participation at the Russia 2018 World Cup in June.