Amaju Pinnick has asked the Jos Federal High Court to vacate the order that sacked him from office.
Following his request, the court on Wednesday fixed July 10 for hearing the motions filed by Mr Pinnick, challenging the exparte order it granted Chris Giwa, who has assumed office as president of the NFF.
Although the case was heard in the chamber, the two counsel in the matter spoke to reporters shortly after.
Festus Ukpe, who stood in for Mr Keyamo, explained: “We came to court to challenge the order which the court gave to Giwa led Exco.
“Our aim or intention was to move our two motions, but the counsel to Adama and Ogba, Mr Habila Ardzard, opposed it on the ground that they only got possession of the motions today (Wednesday).
“We told the judge that there was need for the court to hear these motions because of our fear of what Giwa will do in these few days that he claims he has power over Glass House.
“That is why we argued that there was the need for the judge to vacate his order since we were not given fair hearing in the matter, which we are not a party to but for our interest.’’
Mr Ukpe said that after both sides made their submissions, the judge ruled and set July 10 for the hearing of the motions because of the urgency.
Also, Mr Ardzard said he had to go up against Mr Pinnick from moving the motions “because by law, we are allowed seven days within which we could study the motion and respond from the date of its receipt.
“We were only asked to come to court today and when we came we were told that there were two motions which Pinnick’s counsel intended to move today (Wednesday).
“Of course, we had to oppose it and the court finally ruled in our favour and therefore, fixed July 10 for the hearing of the motions’’.
Even so, the order granted Mr Giwa subsists until Tuesday, July 10 when the motions would be heard on their merit.
Mr Keyamo has time after time argued that Nigeria risks a FIFA ban if the sports ministry’s action is interpreted as interfering in football matters.
Mr Giwa, however, says there is no way FIFA would sanction Nigeria.
This article was most recently revised and updated 4 years ago
