By Uzor Odigbo
Seguel to attempts to perpetuate himself in office, impeached president of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Engineer Ibrahim Shehu Gusau, on Wednesday failed in his bid to hamstring the federation with a restraining order against the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and other parties as Justice Oti Agabaza of the FCT High Court sitting in Jabi did not entertain his motion.
Justice Agbaza adjourned to March 4 to hear the preliminary objection raised by the Ministry.
The Ministry’s application is seeking dismissal of Gusau’s case by challenging the court’s jurisdiction in a case he filed against respondents: Minister of Youth and Sports Development; the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development; AFN President, Olamide George; and Secretary, Adisa A. Beyioku.
By this act, the AFN’s programme of activities which was officially released on Monday will now go into full swing starting from February.
In his reaction, AFN president Hon. Olamide George said, there’s no crisis in AFN, assuring the Federations programme will be implemented to the full.
He praised the sports ministry and the minister for their support, assuring them of the board and athletes commitments to deliver at the African Championship and Olympics in Tokyo.
One of the female board members, Rosa Collins, said the court’s decision was a welcome relief, adding that for athletes welfare and development to continue under AFN’s watch, all hands must work together to achieve it including the courts.
Athletes have also reacted to the development at the court on Wednesday, describing it as a healthy feature that engenders hope and continuity.