Leading Nigerian newspaper Daily Trust has exposed the mismanagement by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) leadership of the $8.4 million FIFA paid Nigeria for the Super Eagles participation at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
In a full-page investigative story published today, the newspaper said there is a well-orchestrated sleaze perpetrated by senior officials of the football federation after studied reviews of official documents from the federal ministry of youth and sports, EFCC, NFF as well as face-to-face interactions with NFF staff.
The newspaper published various instances of brazen mismanagement of this fund.
The report also said the anti-graft agencies have been reluctant to prosecute the case and that was why it has dragged on for many years.
The prize money for the 2014 World Cup was allegedly embezzled by NFF president Amaju Pinnick, general secretary Mohammed Sanusi, vice presients Oluseyi Akinwunmi and Shehu Dikko as well as NFF executive Ahmed Yusuf ‘Fresh’.
This week, the Special Presidential Investigation Panel (SPIP) charged these officials for alleged fraud in respect of the World Cup cash.
Another case by the EFCC, which now seeks to join Pinnick and Sanusi as accused persons, is the alleged diversion of FIFA developmental grants totally over $10 million and this is also before an Abuja court.
The case has been adjourned till May 30.
