Controversial football manager Chris Giwa has bowed to pressure and withdrawn the suit he lodged against the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), thus saving the country from a looming ban by FIFA, the world soccer governors.

FIFA had given Nigeria up till today to put its football house in order or be banned until at least May next year when the FIFA board is scheduled to meet.

When the case came up this morning, Justice Ambrose Allagoa of the Federal High Court sitting in Jos, the Plateau State capital, announced the dismissal of the suit following the withdrawal of the suit by the factional Giwa-led NFF Board.

“The suit is hereby dismissed as the plaintiffs have announced their intention to withdraw the case from the court,” Justice Allagoa said.

Counsel for the plaintiff, Barr. Ardzard Habilla, said: “My client is well aware of the implication of another FIFA ban on Nigeria and has also listened to the appeals from well meaning Nigerians to withdraw the case from court.”

Messrs Obinna Ogba and Yahaya Adamu of the Giwa-led faction had dragged the immediate past Chairman of NFF, Alhaji Aminu Maigari, and the NFF Secretary General, Musa Ahmadu, to court seeking for orders to restrain Magari (first defendant), the NFF (second defendant) and Football Associations (third defendant) from conducting another election after the Giwa-led faction was elected.

The withdrwal and dismissal of the suit clears the way for the Amaju Pinnick-led NFF Board elected in Warri on September 30 to resume duties at the Glas House in Abuja. Pinnick and his team are recognised by both FIFA and the Nigerian Government.

•Photo shows NFF President Amaju Pinnick.