NFF’s red card for Sanni Lulu, Uchegbulam and Ogunjobi to restore confidence in Football Federation
Alhaji Sanni Lulu
Nigeria Football Federation president, Sani Lulu, alongside the vice president, Amanze Uchegbulam, and the technical committee chairman, Taiwo Ogunjobi, have been removed from their respective posts.
Informed sources said they are most likely to face criminal charges and financial misappropriation probe.
The decision to impeach the trio was taken at a meeting in Abuja, on Sunday where issues bordering around President Jonathan decision to ban the Super Eagles and dissolve the football federation board, are being discussed.
Meanwhile, Aminu Maigari and Obinna Ogba have been appointed as the acting president and vice president respectively.
The decision has been seen as an effort to signal to President Jonathan that the Federation wanted a new era of change thereby impressing him to reconsider his ban on Super Eagles from International events for the next two years.
Fifa has threatened to expel Nigeria from world football unless the Nigerian president lifts the two-year ban.
Fifa rules prohibit government intervention in its members’ affairs.
The NFF said the two sackings, as well as the dismissal of a member of the federation’s technical committee, were carried out “to tender a resolved apology” to all Nigerians over the team’s performance in South Africa.
The NFF also promised “to take urgent steps to address the maladministration of football in the country”.
Fifa has imposed a deadline of 1700 BST on Monday for the Nigerian government to reverse its decision, after writing to Jonathan.
Amanze Uchegbulam
The country’s House of Representatives has passed a resolution asking the Nigerian president to reverse his order, fearing sanctions.
Jonathan’s government announced on Wednesday that the NFF would be dissolved and an interim board put in place.
“President Goodluck Jonathan has directed that Nigeria withdraws from international competition for two years to enable the country to put its house in order,” said special presidential adviser Ima Niboro.
However, Fifa rules clearly state that national associations can be expelled if governments are seen to be interfering with the way they operate.
“Fifa has sent a letter to the Nigeria Football Federation indicating that the government of Nigeria has until Monday at 6pm to cancel its direction to withdraw Nigeria’s participation from all Fifa and Caf competitions for the next two years,” said Fifa communications director Nicolas Maingot on Friday.
“Also the management committee set up by the Nigeria government will not be recognised by Fifa.”
Taiwo Ogunjobi
If Nigeria are suspended, the country cannot participate in competitive matches or club games in African competitions.
“A suspension goes beyond the suspension of the national teams,” added Maingot. “It also freezes financial help and no referees can participate in international competition.”
Fifa executive committee member and former Nigeria government minister Dr Amos Adamu will be in the country on Monday “for a last mediation attempt”.
The governing body’s president Sepp Blatter had already warned French president Nicolas Sarkozy of possible sanctions after he pledged to personally lead an investigation into France’s acrimonious World Cup campaign.
If the Nigerian government fails to heed Fifa’s ultimatum, it risks being cut off from all Fifa activities, including junior and female competitions, and also losing Fifa funding.
A ban would also cut access to Fifa’s development courses and stop the annual payment each member associations receives, cash that is much needed by Nigerian football.
Source: BBC News/Reuters
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