SSS Arrests NFF President Maigari

Latest reports coming in from Abuja, the Federal Capital Terrotiry, indicate that thePresident of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Aminu Maigari, who was arrested in Abuja early hours of Friday, 4 July, 2014 by the Nigeria State Security Services (SSS), has been released. It was gathered that no reason was given for his arrest. Earlier reports had stated that Maigari was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja by security operatives after he returned to the country with the Super Eagles. Analysts are already saying the arrest of the football boss may be connected to the sacking of the entire board of the NFF by a court in Jos, Plateau State on Monday, 30 June, 2014. According to the court order, Maigari and his board members were restrained from acting as administrators of the NFF. The suit was filed by former Nigeria Premier League chairman Rumson Baribote, who requested the court to restrain Maigari and all the committee and congress of the NFF from managing the affairs of football matters in Nigeria.

Hon. Justice P. L Lot of the Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos granted the Order of Interlocutory Injunction restraining the president of the NFF, the executive committee members as well as the NFF Congress from running affairs of Nigerian football pending the determination of the Motion on Notice before the court.

According to reports that we got fromGongnews Maigari have queries to answer with the security agencies one of which was the issue of his alleged fake grade III Teachers certificate with which he contested the office of NFF president.

As at the time of compiling this report, the NFF has not released any statement on the arrest of Maigari neither deny the news of the fake certificate scandal charged against him.

Meanwhile, Channels TV reports that coach Stephen Keshi led the Eagles into the country in the early hours of today .

The Nigerian national football team were ousted from the Mundial after they were defeated 0-2 by France in the round of 16 of the football showpiece.

In an interview with sports writers at the airport, coach Keshi said the team would have loved to progress beyond the round of 16 but expressed gratitude to God for the outing in Brazil. When asked on media reports of his resignation immediately after the match against France,Keshi was reported to have said that he had not resigned.

It could be recalled that it was reported on Thursday, 3 July, 2014, that Keshi had been offered a new contract by the Nigerian football governing body.

The report also added that Keshi had not said whether he would accept the offer or not.