Former football bosses in EFCC net over multibillion naira fraud
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- Category: Law, Crime & Judiciary
- Published on Wednesday, 07 July 2010 06:06
- Written by Tribune
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THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has summoned the impeached former President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Sani Lulu, and three others, over an alleged multibillion naira fraud in the running of nation’s football.
Also invited for interrogation are the impeached former Vice-President, Amanze Uchegbulam, and former Chairman, Technical Committee, Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi, and the incumbent Secretary General of the NFF, Mr. Bolaji Ojo-Oba.
Commission’s spokesperson, Mr. Femi Babafemi, confirmed their invitation and appearance tomorrow (Thursday) for questioning.
It was gathered that they were being investigated for alleged fraud and mismanagement of NFF funds.
They were accused of mismanaging billions of money which include $125,000; $250,000; N34 million; $400,000, with the stolen $236,000 added to the alleged mismanaged funds.
They were equally alleged to have mismanaged money received from the world football governing body (FIFA), Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) and sponsors in the course of preparation for the ongoing 2010 World Cup in South Africa, where the Nigerian Super Eagles had a dismal outing.
Some of the funds received from the bodies allegedly include one million dollars and $200,000.
It was also alleged that the sacked NFF leadership used N185 million to bribe the 37 state football associations at N5 million each to support its cause.
The affected officials were also alleged to have squandered another $5 million, said to be proceeds of marketing from FIFA.
Documents seen by the Nigerian Tribune revealed that 300 persons were on the delegate list of the NFF to the World Cup.
While 158 persons were on the original list, an additional list had 142 persons on it, with many of them labelled as stakeholders and ex-players.
President Goodluck Jonathan had ordered a thorough probe of the NFF, following the disastrous outing of the senior national team at the World Cup, where it managed a draw and two losses to crash out at the preliminary stage.
Jonathan had earlier withdrawn the country from all international football competitions for two years, but rescinded the decision following a threat by FIFA to sanction Nigeria.
Lulu, Uchegbulam and Ogunjobi were later impeached by the NFF board to appease the president, while pledging to restore sanity to the nation’s football.
The president also vowed to get whoever was found culpable in the alleged scam punished.
