Justice Musa Haruna Kurya, in his ruling granted the prayers of Mr.Yahaya Adama and Senator Obinna Ogba to relist the case which among others had sought to nullify the September 30, 2014 General Assembly and subsequent Elective Congress in Warri that brought Pinnick to office as the president of the NFF.
However, in a swift move, counsel to Pinnick, Mr. Damon Dashe, appealed the decisions of the court immediately.
According to a statement from the NFF, since an appeal, a motion to vacate the order and a stay-of-execution had been filed, on the same day as the judgment, the status quo remains. Hearing in the substantive suit has been fixed for May 30, 2016.
Justice Kurya had sustained all the previous orders of the court, thereby effectively making Mr Chris Giwa the head of the NFF until the final determination of the suit.
By the orders of the court, the Minister of Sports, Mr Solomon Dalung, is compelled to recognise the Giwa-led board of the NFF as the authentic body by law.
The order also barred anybody from interfering with the duties and functions of the NFF board under the leadership of Giwa.
Counsel to Adama and Ogba, Mr. Habila Azard said his clients had been vindicated, and that “they can now settle down and resume all their functions because that is all we have been fighting for.”
But 1ST Vice-president of the NFF, Seyi Akinwunmi, described the development as a very sad one.
“This is a sad one primarily because we have enjoyed a period of peace and have been able to work without the court-today-court-tomorrowsituation of the last half of 2014,” said “We have filed for stay-of-execution and that means the status quo remains and anything done is done at the actors’ peril.
“I can assure football-loving Nigerians that there is no reason to panic as we are in full charge and there is no trouble whatsoever.
“There is no order for the Giwa group to take over the Glass House. In fact many of his so-called board members have called to dissociate themselves from the matter,” Akinwunmi noted.