NFF clears Ogunjobi, Heman for elections

The Nigeria Football Federation Appeals Committee has given the duo of Ayodeji Ogunjobi and Timothy Heman the go-ahead to participate in the NFF elections.

It will be recalled the election is scheduled to hold on September 30 but a Federal High Court in Abuja on September 15 stopped the NFF from conducting the election following a petition by the players union.

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Ogunjobi was initially barred for failing to provide proof of tax payment, according to a statement from the NFF, while Heman was prohibited for allegedly forging his certificate.

“The Committee found as a fact that during the screening exercise by the 2022 NFF Electoral Committee of 11th September 2022, the Appellant (Ogunjobi) was given the opportunity to produce evidence of payment of the tax clearance on or before Tuesday, September 13th, 2022.

 “On Tuesday, September 13th, 2022, the Appellant sent the evidence of payment of tax clearance issued by Osun State Internal Revenue Service, dated September 12th, 2022, to the Secretariat of the 2022 NFF Electoral Committee, but the result of the screening exercise was released the same day,” the Appeals Committee said in a statement.

 After its findings, the Appeals Committee finally gave Ogunjobi a clean sheet to contest in the NFF elections.

The committee further said the body lacked the power to investigate further alleged certificate forgery against Heman, and struck out the case.

 “Regarding the alleged case of forgery of BSC certificate (Accountancy) by Timothy Heman Magaji, from Taraba State University, Jalingo, the Appeals Committee lacks jurisdiction to entertain the petition.”