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The Disciplinary Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation has slammed a five-year ban on Barister Christopher Giwa after finding him guilty on conducts “capable of attracting a ban from FIFA and putting the administration and development of football in Nigeria into jeopardy”.
Giwa’s associates – Muazu Suleiman, Yahay Adamu, Sani Fema and Johnson Effiong – were also banned for the same offence, for the same number of years.
the bans will prevent them from taking part in any football related activity in the country.
Rising from its sitting on the case brought before it by the Nigeria Football Federation against Christopher Giwa and his group in Abuja on Thursday, the NFF Disciplinary Committee stated:
“Christopher Giwa, Muazu Suleyman, Yahaya Adama, Sani Fema and Johnson Effiong are found guilty of illegally representing the NFF in breach of Art. 40 of the NFF Statutes, when they without due authorization and mandate purportedly contracted a Law Firm, Messrs Leslie Cohen & Associates of Illovo Law Chambers in South Africa in the name of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and refused to pay for services whereby the said Messrs Leslie Cohen & Associates commenced proceedings against the NFF for the sum of $100, 000 being legal fees for professional services rendered in the High Court of South Africa.”
Giwa and his associates were also found guilty of “breaching Art. 69(1) of the NFF Statutes by taking football matters to the ordinary court and failing to submit to the jurisdiction of FIFA and the NFF.”
They were also found guilty of “breach of the general rules of conduct as contained in Art. 13 of the FIFA Code of Ethics when he invaded the premises of the Nigeria Football Federation and falsely presented himself as President of the NFF on 6th May, 2016”.
Similarly, Giwa and co were found culpable for “failing to comply fully with the Statutes, regulations, directives and decisions of FIFA and NFF in contravention of Art. 13 1(a) of NFF Statutes 2010 in relation to the NFF Election held in Warri Delta State on 30th September, 2014.”
The committee also found them in breach of fiduciary and loyalty as contained in Art. 15 of FIFA Code of Ethics 2012 by carrying out various deliberate acts and conducts capable of attracting a ban from FIFA on the NFF capable of putting the administration and development of football in Nigeria into jeopardy.”