[file] DSS
A fresh wave of anxiety swept through staffers of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) yesterday when some men sympathetic to Chris Giwa, who is involved in a leadership tussle with Amaju Pinnick-led board of the federation, stormed the Glass House shortly after the withdrawal of operatives of the Directorate of State Security Services from the premises.
The Guardian learnt that the DSS operatives were withdrawn from the Glass House through ‘orders from above.’
According to an official of the federation, who pleaded anonymity, the DSS withdrew abruptly from the Glass House without prior notice or explanation on why they were leaving.
“But we were alarmed when some members of the Giwa group stormed the premises shortly after the DSS left.
“They went round the offices, entered into the secretary general’s and other offices.
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“We don’t know what would happen next because these men said they are back in power.”
A member of the Giwa group told an online publication yesterday: “We are back in control of the secretariat.
“The acting general secretary, Emmanuel Ikpeme, is here and so are the other board members.”
No member of the NFF board was around when the Giwa men arrived in the Glass House.
The NFF President, Amaju Pinnick and the federation’s secretary general, Sanusi Mohammed are away in France, where the national U-20 women team, Falconets, are engaged in the FIFA U-20 Women World Cup.
Nigeria will meet Haiti in their second group game of the competition.
Giwa, who claims to be the rightfully elected NFF president, has been engaged in a leadership tussle with Pinnick, who was elected as NFF president in Warri in 2014.
The dispute has been in court since FIFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) rejected Giwa’s bid for recognition as NFF president.
He has since been banned globally by FIFA from all football-related activities
A Jos Federal High Court, which is currently hearing the case, at the last sitting, adjourned it till September 25.
Source: G Sport
