Former international player, Harrison Jalla, yesterday brought to the attention of FIFA, the global governing body for football, what he termed as unwarranted interference ahead of the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) election.
In a letter directed to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, via the General Secretary of the organization, Jalla claimed that there are covert actions by the NFF leadership aimed at coercing Nigerians during the lead-up to the upcoming election.
”I am Prince Harrison Jalla, a significant stakeholder in Nigerian football,” he stated. “i and other stakeholders have noted a notice dated September 14, 2025, from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), signed by Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, the General Secretary, concerning a supposed congress scheduled for September 25, 26, and 27, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, which a FIFA delegation is anticipated to attend.
”The purpose of this FIFA delegation’s visit is to endorse a superficial modification to the electoral process, one that perpetuates the fraudulent and undemocratic framework that allows charlatans to rise as leaders of Nigerian football every four years.”
Jalla further stated: “This solidifies corruption and contributes to the decline of Nigerian football, using FIFA as a facade. Given these circumstances, I formally notify FIFA that the electoral process of the Nigeria Football Federation is currently under judicial review, stemming from disputes in the September 2022 NFF elections.
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These disputes are being vigorously contested by relevant stakeholders and members of the five federating units that constitute the NFF, in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1376/2021 and Appeal No: CA/ABJ/CV/1006/2002.”
Jalla also reminded FIFA that Articles 2 and 15 of the FIFA Statutes, along with Articles 18 and 30 of the NFF Statutes, explicitly outline the procedures for amending the statutes.
”This is an entirely internal matter, falling outside FIFA’s jurisdiction. It is astonishing that, despite numerous complaints from Nigerian football stakeholders about the misappropriation, misapplication, and significant corruption linked to FIFA’s annual grants, including FIFA Forward 1 and 2 grants, as well as various other funding sources.
”FIFA has intentionally protected corruption in Nigeria for the past decade. Nevertheless, FIFA is always eager to intervene in Nigeria every four years to supervise NFF elections, which are repeatedly marked by fraud, extensive vote-buying, and other electoral irregularities.”
In his closing remarks, Jalla emphasized that since the involved parties have already engaged with the Nigerian judicial system, it would be a violation of Nigerian law for any third party—whether through action or inaction—to attempt to bypass or undermine our judicial proceedings.
