Lawmaker Wants NFF Investigated

Following the fire that razed the headquarters of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, recently, a member of the House Of Representatives at the National Assembly, Godfrey Gaiya has called for a probe of the football house.

It would be recalled that a mysterious fire gutted the headquarters of the NFF located at Wuse Zone 7, Abuja on Wednesday, 20 August, 2014.

According to reports, the fire incident caused damage worth millions of naira to offices of the secretary, Accountant and others.

Gaiya, who is the Chairman House Committee On Sports,  while commenting on the incident, wondered why the fire razed the chief accountant and secretary general’s offices at a time his committee called on the federation to make their financial records available.

“This happened when my committee requested for NFF’s financial records, which makes it suspicious. Now all evidence may be lost in the fire that affected strategic office.

“Arsonists must be arrested and punished. Whoever is found wanting should be brought to book,” Gaiya said.

Few hours after the fire incident, the police said it has begun investigation into the incident. As at the time of compiling this report, the report of the investigation is yet to be made public.

Meanwhile, the NFF has called on all Nigerians to discountenance a statement by the Chairman of NFF Electoral Committee, Mr. Amoni Biambo, to the effect that elections into the NFF Executive Committee will hold at the General Assembly of Tuesday, 26th August, 2014.

“The statement must have been made in error. As far as the NFF is concerned, there will be no elections at the General Assembly of Tuesday, 26th August. There is a proposal that we are taking to the General Assembly (the supreme body of Nigeria football) for consideration and approval, with regards to the elections. “It is for the NFF and the General Assembly to propose the date for elections, not that of the Electoral Committee, which was put in place by the General Assembly,” NFF General Secretary, Barr. Musa Amadu, said on Thursday.

Amadu expatiated that the proposal to be taken before the General Assembly on Tuesday, 26 August, 2014, will see to the elections being conducted not later than two weeks after the assembly, on the advice of world governing body, FIFA.

“The elections will definitely take place in early September, 2014. All hands are on deck to ensure that we hold the elections not later than two weeks after the Congress on Tuesday, to usher in a new Executive Committee of NFF.

“What the NFF is concerned with, even before a similar advice by FIFA, is to ensure an open and transparent process that will guarantee a level –playing field for everyone. Every person eligible to purchase form and contest the elections should be able to do so, and the process must be one that dovetails into credible, free and fair elections, that will stand the test of time, devoid of challenges by aggrieved persons that will affect the smooth running of the NFF by the incoming Executive Committee,” Amadu stated.

It would be recalled that the NFF has been embroiled with crisis lately over the presidency of the body. The incumbent president, Aminu Maigari has been removed and reinstated over charges of misconduct levied against him by some members of NFF executive committee.

The crisis had led to FIFA suspending Nigeria from all its football related activities. The suspension was later lifted after the NFF rescinded its decision to sack Maigari without conducting election as FIFA rules stipulate.