By Amaechi Agbo

Former Nigeria Premier League, NPL (now Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL) chairman and second vice president of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Victor Baribote has asked the NFF President, Amaju Pinnick to stop lying and misleading Nigerians, Bestchoicesports.com.ng can report.

Mr Baribote, now a legal practitioner, made the statement while reacting to Amaju Pinnick’s interview where the latter defended why the federation is setting up a caretaker committee to run Anambra State FA affairs.

NFF in a bizarre decision Monday announced that it will set up a caretaker committee to oversee the affairs of the Anambra state FA after the electoral committee returned incumbent chairman, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah for a second term via virtual voting.

Pinnick on TVC said that the federation did not accept the election because it violated its order on suspension of football-related activities in the country.

Defending why the NFF annulled the election and set up a Caretaker Committee Pinnick in a 90 seconds video obtained by our correspondent, Amaju said “They (Electoral Committee) are meant to write a letter to Nigeria Football Federation intimating us on what they want to do and how they want to achieve it because you can recall at the beginning of Covid 19 all football activities for now have been suspended. NFF cannot come out tomorrow to say that they have resumed football activities which also include any form of gathering in conducting an election.

“The next we heard is there is an election in Anambra, no supervision from NFF and no correspondence to the NFF. You cannot say that we don’t have a say over our affiliate. So, if you want to have an election our member must be there. Four years ago when they have an election, we have a member of the NFF executive committee, Ibrahim Gusau that was there.” He concluded.

However, Barrister Baribote has asked him to stop lying and misinforming Nigerians.

Reacting to Amaju Pinnick’s stand on the Anambra FA election, Baribote claimed that the former Vice president of CAF was lying and misleading Nigerians.

In his words, “It is so unfortunate that the NFF president can come out on national television to mislead Nigerians.” Baribote said.

“In the interview on TV, he said sporting activities have been suspended in Nigeria, and I ask, did he remember that the same NFF through the league body organised virtual meeting of clubs and adopted clubs that will represent Nigeria in the continent using the PPG (Point Per Game) format?

He added “I have to also remind him that the same NFF directed the national leagues to have their Congresses to decide on no relegation no promotion just few weeks ago.

“The same NFF recently set up a Caretaker Committee to go to Anambra state forgetting that sporting activities have been suspended.

“If Amaju Pinnick has personal issues to settle with Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, it is not done using his office to fight him. I think the man deserves some respect. Club owner like Ifeanyi Ubah who provided platform for you to become the president should be respected. Coming to tell Nigerians that you have control over FA election is misleading because you have no control over your affiliate. The only control you have is to approve their statute and once you approve it, you don’t have any hold.

“You also lack the power to recognize or not to recognize affiliate election. FIFA cannot recognize or recognize NFF election.

“And I ask, who (from CAF and FIFA) supervised the NFF election in Warri that saw you winning your first term. Stop lying to Nigerians please.” He concluded.

Findings by this paper indicate that the Anambra State FA as well as the Electoral Committee wrote to the NFF intimating the decision and updates on the election.