An Abuja Chief Magistrate District Court 11 sitting at Wuse Zone 2 has suspended an arrest warrant issued previously to the Special Presidential Investigative Panel (SPIP) headed by Chief Okoi Obono-Obla against the president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick and four other NFF officials.

The NFF vice presidents, Seyi Akinwunmi and Shehu Dikko, Ahmed Yusuf, a board member, and Dr. Sanusi Mohammed, the board’s General-Secretary are the other officials included in the warrant.

The NFF had challenged the warrant for the arrest of its officials, stating that the SPIP acted beyond its jurisdiction in obtaining the warrant.

Having looked into the matter, the court held that there was no basis for a warrant of arrest to be issued against NFF officials under the law.

Reacting to the decision, the Federation’s counsel, Muhammed Sani Katu said: “Notwithstanding this positive and deserved outcome expected by our clients, we hold onto their firm instructions to pursue with utmost diligence and determination suit number FC/ABJ/CS/17/2019 pending separately at the Federal High Court, Abuja, which our clients have instituted against Chief Obono-Obla and SPIP for violating our clients’ rights under the law and, acting contrary to the enabling law setting up SPIP.

“For the avoidance of any doubt, our clients reiterate most categorically that there are no charges against them existing anywhere, as they have not committed any crime under the law, whatsoever.”