Reports emerging from the glass house indicates that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) intends to investigate Amaju Pinnick, Shehu Dikko and three other top members of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFA).
In a statement issued on Friday, the special adviser to the minister of sports, Nneka Ikem Anibeze says the investigation is in reaction to a petition written to the EFCC by James Peters; a former National team coach on May 4, 2018 titled “Monumental Stealing and Financial Crimes in The Nigeria Football Federation”.
Peters alleges that the NFF board members deposited monies outside the official accounts of the federation in the Central Bank and diverted same for fraudulent activities. He also stated that a private company owned by one of the NFF officials was used to collect over 40% of revenues from the sponsors of the football body.
Peters who also served as Technical Director with the Nigeria Football Federation for many years urged the EFCC to carry out a thorough investigation on an alleged “unprecedented stealing, corrupt practices and financial crimes being perpetrated by the current President Mr Amaju Melvin Pinnick, the General Secretary Dr Mohammed Sanusi, the first Vice President Barrister Seyi Akinwumi, the second Vice President Mallam Shehu Dikko and a member of the Executive Committee Alhaji Ahmed Yusuf.
Peters also alleged “stealing and fraudulent activities by Financial Derivatives Ltd, a company brought through the backdoor into the NFF by President Amaju Pinnick for the sole purpose of warehousing money outside the official accounts of the NFF in the Central Bank and diverting same for fraudulent activities,”
Alleging further, the petition stated … “These NFF chieftains also used the company Mediterranean Sports Limited belonging to Mallam Shehu Dikko who is the second Vice President of the Executive Committee, Chairman of the League Management Company, a body saddled with the responsibility of running the Elite league, and attracts millions of dollars from sponsorship and Chairman, Marketing and Sponsorship sub-committee of the NFF to collect over 40% of revenues from the numerous sponsors of the NFF.”
The Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports Development has confirmed that it has been notified of the petition by Mr Peters and urged for a Forensic audit to be carried on the financial dealings of the NFF.