NFF rejects Maigari’s ‘soft landing’ proposal

By Albert Akota

The Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has pointedly rejected the proposal made by ousted President Aminu Maigari for a soft landing.

Maigari, made the proposal for a soft landing at a meeting convened by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim, late Monday evening.

However, the ousted President’s proposal turned out to be a ‘dummy’ that was instantly rejected by Mike Umeh, who led some of the Executive Committee members to the meeting.

It was learnt that Maigari, who is currently on suspension had proposed to resign as NFF President but that the resignation letter be post-dated to August 26, 2014, when his tenure ends.

If the proposal had been accepted, it would have seen the Executive Committee recalling Maigari yesterday to take charge till August 26, but it was turned down.

Rather, the Mike Umeh-led side asked the suspended President to back date the resignation letter to early July, if truly he wants a soft landing. The meeting was therefore deadlocked.

Meanwhile, the Board met with the leadership of the National Sports Commission today (yesterday) to trash out other issues concerning the upcoming election.

Maigari, was suspended by eight of the 13-Member Executive Committee recently over allegations bothering on financial secrecy, misappropriation and maladministration among others.

The NFF Congress is expected to ratify his dismissal at its next meeting.

It will be recalled that in a bid to upturn his suspension, Maigari, had mobilized some State Football Associations chairmen but the meeting they held in Abuja last week turned out to be an exercise in futility.

The meeting held in the office of League Management Company boss, Shehu Dikko has also earned two of Maigari’s allies, Christopher Green and Yusuf Ahmed Fresh, six months and one year ban respectively.