Sports Talk Nigerian football: The storm is over... There can be no doubt that with the conclusion of the NFF Election Appeals Committee sittings and the submission thereof, the storm that had beclouded Nigerian football for so many months, indeed years, should be over. The Appeals Committee sat on December 3, 2014, to consider protests arising from the September elections in Warri which brought in the presidency of Amaju Melvin Pinnick and there had been suggestions that the election would be nullified and a new process restarted. That has not become. The Appeals Committee threw out the petitions from several individuals and upheld the elections in its entirety. So, Amaju stays. There was however a curious trail from the past on the affairs of the Appeals Committee which consists of three substantive members and two reserves. While two of the three, Dotun Coker and Sani Mohammed, with the two reserve members, are in agreement on the sanctity of the elections and incompetence of the appeals, its chairman, Okey Ajunwa, returned with a lone voice minority report insisting on the nullification of the elections and unilaterally announcing the suspension of the other members. He went further in his minor report to invite Chris Giwa for a fresh elections. This would have meant the restart of more confusion but to the relief of Nigerian football, both the NFF and the National Sports Commission have since accepted the majority report of the Appeals Committee putting paid to the hitherto unending cacophony. Director General of the National Sports Commission, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, in a statement on Friday, noted the minority report of Mr. Ajunwa but affirmed that the NSC has accepted the majority report, pointing out that the legal norm is to accept a majority report over a minor dissent. Interestingly, Okey Ajunwa had gone about town trying to push his position with a tendency to demean the other members of the committee. This has necessitated the reply and full disclosure of what transpired in the Appeals Committee in a conference called by the majority members, Saturday attthe Lagos SWAN Secretariat. Herein are the whole issues as presented by the majority: As the majority members of the NFF 2014 Electoral Appeals Committee (it) has become necessary not to trade words but to clarify certain issues which were misrepresented or willfully ignored by Mr. Okey Ajunwa at the press conference he unilaterally and without authority hosted in Abuja allegedly on behalf of the Electoral Appeals Committee. We reiterate that in line with the Electoral Code Mr. Okey Ajunwa is only one of 3 (three) members of the Committee and when you include the 2 (substitute members) who we agreed should attend all the sittings and meetings, he is only 1 (one) voice out of 5 (five). Ref: Article 12 (1), Appeals Procedure states that “The election appeal committee is constituted of three members and, two substitutes elected by the general assembly at the same time as the members of the Committee. One of the members shall have a legal training”. We must first note that all members of the Committee were appointed by the congress and given equal rights. The congress never nominated nor appointed Mr. Ajunwa as Chairman of the Committee; it was us the members of the Committee who for the sake of convenience in convoking meetings that appointed him as the Chairman of the Committee. We therefore reiterate what we pointed out to him at the last meeting of the Committee that by the letters of the Electoral Code all members of the Committee have equal rights regarding any decision of the Committee and that arrogating superior powers to himself was not only condescending towards the other members of the committee, it is in clear breach of the Electoral Code and also the rules of fairness and equity as it would amount to the minority overruling the majority or the tail wagging the dog.. We will in the course of this conference refer to some parts of his minority report which will not only exhibit levels of refusal to adhere to the NFF Electoral Code which he showed but also the obvious insincerity he displayed which has made us lose complete confidence in him. SITTING OF THE NFF 2014 ELECTORAL APPEALS COMMITTEE We brought to the notice of Mr. Okey Ajunwa the crucial matter of the jurisdiction of the Committee to sit over the appeals by virtue of the fact that by the time he convoked our first meeting, we were already out of time having not conformed with Articles 12 (2) and (3) and without power to extend the time within which to hear the appeals. The Articles are for ease of reference reproduced here;. 1. Article 12 (2): Any appeal, with its reasons, shall be sent by registered post or delivered in exchange for confirmation of receipt to the general secretariat of the association within 14 days of receipt of the Committee’s decisions. 2. Article 12 (3): appeals shall be considered by the election appeal committee within 14 days of their receipt by the general secretariat. At our meeting we noted the following; a. That the election took place on September 30, 2014. b. Article 12 (2) and (3) are not ambiguous and, shall be simply interpreted as; “protest shall be filed 14 days from 30/9/2014 and another 14 days thereafter for consideration of the appeal”. c. That Article 12 (2) and, (3) of the Electoral Code clearly provides the time within which any appeal against the NFF elections of September 30, 2014 can be heard by the NFF 2014 Electoral Appeals Committee as stated by the appellant. d. We noted the letter mailed to Mr. Okey Ajunwa by one of the members of the NFF 2014 Electoral Appeals Committee, Mr. Dotun Coker on 2nd October 2014 reminding him of the the Appeals Procedure and the need to sit within time. The letter referred to was sent and received well before any person(s) submitted their protest letters. e. We noted the acknowledgement of the letter by the Chairman on this important issue. f. The Chairman failed to activate (d) above as contained in Mr. Dotun Coker’s letter. g. Reference to barrister Igbokwe Leonard Ikechukwu appeal on item 31 page 9 by Mr. Okey Ajunwa which state “in the instant case, although the Appellant’s Appeal was filed within time on 10.10.14, the General Secretariat of NFF did not bring the Appellant’s Appeal to the notice of Appeals Committee until 13.10.24” h. Furthermore reference to Barrister Igbokwe Leonard Ikechukwu appeal on item 40 page 10 by Mr. Okey Ajunwa which state “in the instant case, the Appellant’s Appeal was filed and received by the General Secretariat of the 2nd respondent on 10.10.14. The said appeal was brought to the attention of the appeals committee on 13th October, 2014. Upon being aware of the appellant’s appeal, the appeal committee quickly considered same in line with the provisions of article 12 (3) of the electoral code”. i. Mr Okey Ajunwa lied. The Committee never met let alone consider any appeal earlier than 29th October 2014 after the expiry of the Committee’s jurisdiction to sit. We are aware that Mr Okey Ajunwa was in far away Japan at the time we were supposed to “consider” the Appeals. This singular act portrayed the Appeal Committee as irresponsible as indeed, it was gross dereliction of duty by him. Perhaps it might be necessary to ask Mr Okey Ajunwa when he convened a meeting where Igbokwe’s Appeal was considered by the Committee as indicated in item 40(Page 10) of Mr Okey Ajunwa’s minority Report on Igbokwe’s Appeal. j. It follows therefore, that Muazu Suleiman’s appeal received by NFF Secretariat on the 3rd of October 2014 ought to have been considered on the 17th of October 2014 as dictated by Article 12(3) of the Electoral Code. k. In the same vein Barr. Igbokwe’s appeal received by the Secretariat on the 10th of October 2014 and subsequently delivered to Mr Okey Ajunwa on the 13th of October ought to have been amply considered by the Appeal Committee since him, Mr Okey Ajunwa had 11 days to convene a meeting of the Committee, which he never did. It would have been share mischief to have dropped the buck of this gross dereliction of duty on the Secretariat as alluded by Mr Okey Ajunwa in item 31 and 32 of his minority report. l. Therefore, failure of Mr Okey Ajunwa, to call for a meeting in line with Article 7(Convoking the Committee and Quorum of the Electoral Code) on or before 28/10/2014 did indeed make the Electoral Appeal Committee functus officio by sting on the 29/10/2014 and by virtue of the provisions of Article 12(3) of the Electoral Code. m. The NFF 2014 Electoral Appeal Committee had therefore no jurisdiction to sit outside the time limit provided by Article 12(3) of the Electoral Code. n. However because he had insisted on a pubic sitting we felt that we needed for the sake of completeness to consider the issues raised on Appeal so that the public does not think that we want to disenfranchise the appellants. Since after considering the issues we could note in our ruling that our jurisdiction had lapsed. WRONGFUL DISQUALIFICATION OF MR. SHEHU DIKKO AND, NULLIFICATION OF MR. AMAJU PINNICK PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. a. The Electoral Committee Chairman reaffirmed that Mr. Shehu Dikko was not disqualified on the floor of the election hall. The Electoral Committee only announced that any candidate who was not physically present may not be voted for by the delegates for best reasons known to the Committee. This was also applicable to other candidates including Mr. Jarret Tenebe Celestine. b. In furtherance to (a) above, the Electoral Committee have exercised their powers in line with Part G. (5) and, (6) Final Provisions of the Electoral Code. Part G (5) states that “All matters relating to the administrative and, technical organization of the elective general assembly that are not covered by this code shall be ruled upon by the Committee”. Part G (6) states that “All matters relating to the running of the elections not covered by this code shall be ruled upon by the Committee”. c. Mr. Okey Ajunwa glossed over the issue of the Locus Standi of Barrister. Igbokwe to argue on Mr. Shehu Dikko’s absence at the election venue even though this issue had been thrashed out at our meeting and the majority ruled that Barrister Igbokwe had no such Locus not having run for that post. d. Moreover, we reaffirmed that Mr. Shehu Dikko had withdrawn his appeal as, confirmed by the withdrawal letter of Mr. Shehu Dikko brought and, shown to members by Mr. Okey Ajunwa on November 13, 2014. Members advised him to lodge the withdrawal letter with the Secretariat appropriately. It was later found out that curiously Mr Okey Ajunwa failed to lodge the withdrawal with the Secretariat as advised by the members. e. Surprisingly, Mr. Okey Ajunwa came to the meeting of Wednesday, December 03, 2014 with a copy of Mr. Shehu Dikko’s appeal for consideration. Mr. Okey Ajunwa admitted showing the withdrawal letter of Mr. Shehu Dikko to members except to Mr. Dotun Coker (curiously) and, refused and, failed to produce the withdrawal letter when asked. We therefore decided not to consider the appeal. f. In furtherance to the above and logical reasoning, we therefore reaffirmed the Presidential Election of Mr. Amaju Pinnick at the NFF 2014 Elective Congress held at Warri on September 30, 2014. As there was no valid protest against him. NULLIFICATION OF MR.SEYI AKINWUMI’S VICE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. a. Mr Okey Ajunwa disqualified Mr. Seyi Akinwunmi on account of him and, the President coming from Southern Nigerian and therefore not complying with the policy of Federal Character and geo-political spread. He derived his judgement from Alhaji Muazu Suleiman’s submission that “Mr Amaju Pinnick who was declared winner of NFF Presidential Election is from the South-South zone of Nigeria, the same zone where Mr Seyi Akinwunmi is from contrary to the tradition of NFF which prohibits the President and the First Vice President to come from the same zone”. b. Mr Okey Ajunwa gleefully elected to ignore the provisions of the Statutes, Electoral Code and Guidelines which in Articles 7(a) and 22 of the NFF Electoral Guidelines and Article 33(1) of NFF Statutes which, in this case, referred to the 6 geo-political zones and rather chose to refer to unwritten traditions that confers no moral or legal burden on anybody. c. It must be mentioned that the concept of Northern and, Southern Nigeria is anachronistic and, even primordial and, can only question the sincerity of Mr Okey Ajunwa. Other than raising the bar of mischief and inciting ethnic sentiments, this feigned ignorance of what 6 geo-political zones as defined in Article 22 of the NFF Electoral Guidelines means, by Mr. Okey Ajunwa serves no other purpose. d. We reaffirm that the President is from the South-South Zone while the First Vice President is from the South West zone and by this, insist that the provisions of Article 7(a) of the Electoral Guidelines and Article 33(1) of the NFF Statutes are eminently satisfied. e. At our meeting on the 3rd of December it was unanimously agreed (including by Mr. Okey Ajunwa) that there was no valid protest against Mr. Seyi Akinwunmi. We were therefore surprised at his about turn and it reeks of mischief. f. Consequently, we upheld Mr Seyi Akinwunmi as duly elected the 1st Vice President of NFF at the NFF 2014 Elective Congress held at Warri, on 30th September 2014. NULLIFICATION OF MESSRS FELIX ANYANSI AND, RABIU SHERIFF INUA ELECTION. Let us start by stating clearly that Article 7(b) of NFF Executive Committee Election Guidelines being referred to is strictly for all candidates at the NFF 2014 Elective Congress. The outcome of this election did not produce two candidates from the same state as alleged by Mr Okey Ajunwa. a. Furthermore, the 2014 Elections have not been completed as the elections into the Executive of the Leagues are yet to be conducted by the 2014 Electoral Committee. b. The elections into Leagues have their own Electoral Guidelines, Codes and, Congress. c. It must be mentioned also that High Chief Emeka Inyama and, Alhaji Ahmed Kawu were not elected through the electoral process of the NFF 2014 Elective Congress held at Warri on September 30, 2014. d. It will be preposterous to force the interpretation of Article 7(b) of the Electoral Guidelines into a straight jacket without taking into consideration the extraneous factors surrounding the coincidence of the emergence of these individuals from the same state. e. We insist that High Chief Emeka Inyama and Alhaji Ahmed Kawu are products of the previous NFF Executive Committee of NFF led by Alhaji Aminu Maigari whose tenures merely overlapped into the current NFF Executive. f. At various meetings, while Mr. Okey Ajunwa agreed that there was no case against these 2 (two) gentlemen, he said that we should “sacrifice” them as they were the only 2 (two) that even had a semblance of a case against them, so that the committee would have been seen to have any done some work. We outrightly rejected his proposition. g. We therefore reaffirm our position that Chief Felix Anyansi and Alhaji Sheriff Rabiu Inua were duly elected by the 2014 Electoral Congress held in Warri on September 30, 2014. REMOVAL OF MR. DOTUN COKER AS A MEMBER OF THE NFF 2014 ELECTORAL APPEALS COMMITTEE. FURTHER FINDINGS: a. The appellant relied on a Newspaper publication to submit his allegations. b. We equally noted that the appellant’s name in the submitted Newspaper publication as the Vice Chairman, Disciplinary Committee. c. The appellant failed to provide admissible NFF letter of appointment and, acceptance by Mr. Dotun Coker. d. The appellant failed to provide any still photos of the inauguration of the Youth Development Committee showing Mr. Dotun Coker as a member. e. Mr. Okey Ajunwa allowed Mr. Dotun Coker to sit as a member throughout the proceedings. his removal as a member of the NFF 2014 Appeals Committee in Mr Okey Ajunwa’s minority report is irrelevant, immaterial, incompetent and, of no effect. f. Part C: Article 3 (2) and, (4). Basic Principles of the Electoral Code clearly define ineligibility of members of the Electoral Committee; Article 3 (2); “The members of the Committee must under no circumstances be members of the executive body”. Article 3 (4); “The members of the Committee must immediately decline to give an opinion and, withdraw from the matter in progress if they are; 1. A candidate for an elected post. 2. A relative, whether by birth or marriage, of one of the candidates for an elected post. 3. A government official of any kind. g. We affirm that Mr. Dotun Coker does not fall into any of the categories specified in Part C: Article 3 (2) and, (4). h. We upheld that Mr. Dotun Coker remains a member of the NFF 2014 Electoral Appeals Committee. VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE ALLEGATIONS: a. He lied that the Appeals Committee sat to consider Bar. Igbokwe’s appeal before 28/10/2014 and, we never sat until 29/10/2014. b. He hid Shehu Dikko’s withdrawal letter and refused to give it to the Secretary of the Electoral Appeals Committee even when we demanded he does so. c. He had at various times tried to play divide and rule among the Electoral Appeals Committee making all sorts of untoward offers to individuals. d. He had obviously written his 80 page Minority Report prior to our meeting of 3rd December 2014 as it contained resolutions which contradicted even his own position at our meetings not to talk of the unanimous resolutions. 1. USURPING OF SECRETARIAT FUNCTIONS: a. Barring the Secretary from performing his functions. b. Insisting using a Lawyer from his Chamber for Secretariat duties c. Sending out invite to members d. Arranging logistics 2. SELECTIVE INVITE OF MEMBERS: a. Attempt to source funds from external parties especially for Committee sitting inside the week 17/11/2014. 3. DICTATORIAL LEADERSHIP STYLE: a. Persistent late coming to meetings b. Unilateral suspension of further meetings c. Insistence of having the final say on Legal matters
Posted on: Sun, 07 Dec 2014 11:26:31 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015