These are not the best of times for the President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick.

The Abuja division of the Federal High Court on Thursday ordered that he and four other persons appear before it over the alleged misappropriation of $8,400,000 belonging to the football body by the Federal Government.

Justice Ijeoma Ojokwu specifically ordered that Pinnick and other defendants named in the 17-count charge appear before the court on November 5.

The order followed the absence of the defendants in court in violation of an order compelling their appearance yesterday.

Others indicted along with the NFF president are the NFF Secretary, Sunusi Mohammed; the 1st Vice-President, Seyi Akinwumi; the 2nd Vice-President, Shehu Dikko and an Executive member, Yusuff Fresh, an executive member.

Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu had earlier issued a warrant of arrest against four officials of the NFF in the case brought by the Special Presidential Investigation Panel (SPIP), now disbanded by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Ojukwu issued the bench warrant on the four top officials of the NFF for their failure to appear in court to answer to the charges.