Lagos — Nigeria risks the World Football Governing Body (FIFA) ban if the Federal High Court ruling annulling the election of the new Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) board is carried out.

This was disclosed by football experts Prince Kashimawo Laloko and FIFA Instructor Adegboye Onigbinde following the court ruling that the present board of the NFF is illegal.

Speaking with Trustsports in a telephone interview on Tuesday, the onetime Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Prince Laloko said Nigeria risks going on FIFA suspension if the court decision stands.

He explained that FIFA statues no matter concerning football should be taken to court since there is a Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) which take care of any wrangling. Laloko described those struggling desperately to be on the board as jobless and aggrieved people who want to be in office at all means.

I believe they are too desperate because they have no jobs. If they have a lot to chew they would not be running from one court to the other," he said.

Also speaking on the court ruling, FIFA instructor and former Super Eagles Coach Onigbinde said if Nigeria does not do the right thing then it should be ready for the consequence. "I believe the matter is still in court, Let us wait for the final judgement. Everything will still depend on what we present to FIFA," he said. "If FIFA eventually bans us it might provide us the alternative way to reorganize our football, although nobody will be happy with such development," he added

"If there certain things we have not been doing right, I think this will give us the opportunity to put it right," he explained. A Federal High Court in Lagos has nullified last month's NFF elections, and ordered 28 senior officials to appear before it for contempt of court.

Justice Okon Abang ruled that the elections were held in violation of a court order suspending the process and declared it null and void. On August 20, the court granted an injunction brought by the National Association of Nigerian Footballers (NANF) that the elections be suspended pending the determination of the substantive suit.

The judge has now directed that the most senior official in the federation take over the administration of the Glass House pending the determination of that substantive suit. Twenty eight people, including past and present sports ministry officials, have been directed to appear in court on September 24 to face charges of contempt.

The controversial elections, which ushered in Aminu Maigari and a new board, were held in defiance of at least three court orders, with the electoral committee claiming they were served no court processes.