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Rio de Janeiro - The world football governing body, FIFA, has handed Nigeria a deadline until next Tuesday week to reinstate the football federation headed by Aminu Maigari or face suspension from the sport internationally.
FIFA in a letter dated July 4 and signed by its secretary general, Jerome Valcke, stated that it understands that "the NFF has been served with court processes and that consequently an order restraining the President of the NFF, his Executive Committee members and the NFF Congress from running the affairs of Nigerian football has been granted by a High Court of the Federal Republic of Nigeria."
The international football body also noted that the Nigeria minister of sports (Tamuno Danagogo) has appointed "an assistant director (Lawrence Katken) to take charge of the NFF."
FIFA also clearly stated in its letter that the happenings in Nigeria are "preventing the NFF from managing its affairs independently" without external influence under articles 13 of its statutes.
The football body advised the troubled NFF president to inform "the relevant authorities" in Nigeria of its position and "the potential adverse consequences" that would befall the country's football.
"Moreover we ask that you respectfully inform the relevant authorities that if the aforementioned NFF officials are not fully reinstated by Tuesday 8 July 2014, we will have no choice but to refer the case to the appropriate FIFA organs for sanctions, including the suspension of the NFF," Valcke wrote on behalf of FIFA.
Nigeria now stands the risk of being thrown out of international football activities which will mean a black out for the different national teams as well as clubs.
The NFF board was order to step aside by a High Court in Jos, Plateau State following an interlocutory injunction filed by owner of Nembe City, Mrs Ebiakpo Rumson Baribote.
The court presiding judge, Justice P. L. Lot has fixed July 11 for the hearing on the Motion on Notice while restraining Maigari and other board members from managing the country's football affairs till that hearing.
