UPDATED: Police arrest Giwa at NFF headquarters

The crisis rocking the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) took a new dimension on Friday, as the police arrested Chris Giwa at the Glass House in Abuja.

Accompanied by all his board members,with the exception of Obinna Ogba, Giwa stormed the NFF secretariat, saying he had come to take over the leadership of the football body.

But the police prevented him from gaining access to the main building.

Officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Zone 7, locked the gate to the NFF and FRSC.

The action prevented movement of people in or out of the premises for about 20 minutes before the arrival of Sunday Irek, the divisional police officer (DPO), of Wuse Zone 3 police station.

Irek arrived with a detachment from his unit, and he entered Giwa’s Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) which took off to the station.

The DPO had earlier deployed men to guard the NFF, saying he was acting on orders from above.

Giwa had earlier told journalists that he will take over the leadership of the federation on Monday.

“My coming here is to confirm the ruling of the court that we got on April 8, 2016,” he said.

“It has been in the news, getting to one month today, that we got a ruling from the high court in Jos restoring all the orders granted to us sometimes in 2014 after we relisted the case.

“The ruling gave me the permit and the right to be here today. I didn’t come in here with police; as you are aware, policemen have been here to do their duty of guarding the premises.

“By the grace of God, by Monday I am going to address the press here (NFF secretariat).”

Amaju Pinnick and Giwa have been engaged in a tussle for the leadership of the federation, but the latest crisis started in April.

Relying on the order, Giwa announced new appointments and dissolved committees and state excos.

But Pinnick through Festus Keyamo, his counsel sent a petition to the inspector-general of police, saying there was no such order.

Pinnick asked the police to arrest Giwa whom he accused of causing disorderliness.

World football governing body, FIFA, has threatened to suspend Nigeria if the crisis is not quickly resolved.