Dalung and Pinnick...challenges and crisis
Dalung and Pinnick...challenges and crisis ahead of them in the new year

EFCC to finally take over NFF Audit fraud in January 2017

Solomon Dalung Minister of Sports…given nod to petition EFCC on FIFA audit fraud

*FG gives approval for full investigation, prosecution

*Entire NFF Board to face prosecution?

By Oluwole Francis

If feelers from the corridor of power is anything to go by, the advent of the new year is going to be very rough for the members of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) as the Federal Government has given a nod for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commisssion (EFCC) to enter the $801,929 FIFA development fund fraud.

According to our sources, the Minister of Youth and Sports Barrister Solomon Dalung has been given the approval to formally petition the EFCC on the matter. He was further instructed to petition against the entire Executive Board of the NFF.

Meanwhile, Dalung confirmed as at the time of writing this report that he is yet to receive a report of an audited account of the Nigeria Football Federation.

Amaju Pinnick-led NFF…will be special guests at Tunde Idiagbon House in Wuse-Abuja in January 2017

Barrister Dalung had directed the NFF to appoint an independent auditor to look into the books of the federation and also provide minutes of nomination by the Congress of its President, Mr Amaju Pinnick to vie for a CAF seat during its Congress on Sunday.

“I received a communiqué of the Congress which referred to my action as uninformed. Instead of providing me with the minutes, the Congress went ahead to endorse its president, two weeks after its Secretary General had sent a letter of his nomination to CAF”

The Minister emphasised that government was yet to nominate anybody to contest for the CAF seat.

“The Ministry of Youth and Sports wants to make it clear that Nigeria has not endorsed anybody to contest. The Ministry will constitute a committee to screen and recommend to government, a suitable candidate who will represent Nigeria.”

Barrister Dalung also stated that since the Federation has failed to appoint an independent auditor to audit the accounts of the federation, government has no option than to embark on a full scale investigation of those issues raised at the congress.

This may be a veiled reference to the approval he has gotten from the seat of the government for a full scale investigation and prosecution of the NFF.

“FIFA’s forensic audit has raised concerns about documentation of the federation’s accounts. 19 grave issues were identified in FIFAs audit report which needs to be looked into. The federal government has already set machinery in motion  to embark on a full scale investigation of those issues.

“We are committed to getting rid of all obstacles capable of destroying probity, credibility, transparency and accountability in sports administration in Nigeria” the Minister said.

 

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