Investigations have revealed that accused top NFF officials led by president Amaju Pinnick are hoping and praying that Abubakar Malami is returned as minister of justice and Attorney General of the Federation and their lawyer, Festus Keyamo, is appointed sports minister so they would not be tried for alleged corruption.
“Pinnick and the other officials are banking on Malami and Keyamo to take office as minister of Justice and sports minister, respectively, to save them from facing trial for corruption,” a source informed SCORENigeria
“They enjoy a good personal relationship with the two men and believe they can intervene in their favour.”
Both Malami and Keyamo have been confirmed as ministers after they passed the screening by senate.
However, they are yet to be handed their portfolios.
Pinnick, NFF vice presidents Seyi Akinwunmi and Shehu Dikko, executive committee member Ahmed Yusuf ‘Fresh’ as well as general secretary Mohammed Sanusi have been charged to court for alleged corruption.
Their charges range from embezzlement of $8.4 million paid to Nigeria for the 2014 World Cup to failure to declare their assets.
Malami has widely been reported as one of the “powerful backers” of the NFF chieftains in his first tenure as AGF.
He sided with them in an open confrontation with former sports minister Solomon Dalung as regards a Supreme Court ruling against the Pinnick-led NFF.
And in his final days as Minister of Justice, a letter purportedly from the AGF office attempted to take over the case brought against them by the Special Presidential Investigation Panel (SPIP).
On the other hand, Keyamo’s chambers is representing the NFF in another corruption trial brought by EFCC as it concerns the alleged stealing of over $10 million being grants from FIFA and CAF.
Keyamo also represented NFF in the leadership tussle case against Chris Giwa.
