The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFFC) will this week begin the probe into the finances of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), it was learnt at the weekend.
The anti-graft agency has sought clarifications from the National Sports Commission(NSC).
Our correspondent cited a letter dated November 28, 2024 written to the NSC by the anti-graft agency asking the sports commission to furnish it with the list of all sponsors of the NFF and the Professional Football League (companies and individuals) from 2022 to date.
But the sports commission described the reports linking it to the probe as malicious and distorted sensationalism.
The letter, signed by Farouk Dogondaji, on behalf of the EFCC chairman, was received on November 29 by the office of the director general of the NSC.
The letter reads:“This commission is investigating an alleged case of abuse of office and diversion of public funds in which the need to obtain information from your office becomes imperative.
“In view of the above, you are requested to kindly furnish this office with the details of the following information to enable us conclude our investigation.
“Details of the amount donated and the account/ banks into which those funds were lodged.
“Details of the releases made to NFF for the prosecution of the three major football tournaments aside budgetary allocations.
“Details of the amount donated by FIFA for the preparation of Super Falcons for the 2023 Women World Cup and the account /banks into which those funds were lodge.
“Details of the amount donated by CAF for the participating in the final of the 2023 AFCON and the accounts/banks into which those funds were lodged.
“Details of companies appointed as consultants for the Nigeria Football Federation and Professional Football League and any other information that may assist this office in this investigation.”
The agency said the request is made pursuant to Section 38 (1) and (2) of the EFCC establishment Act, 2004.
But the NSC yesterday in a statement by Micheal Obasi, a media aide to the director general, said it frowned at earlier reports linking the commission to the EFCC probe of the NFF, describing such reports as ‘malicious’, ‘very unprofessional’ and ‘an extreme case of distorted sensationalism’.
The NSC noted inter alia: “While in the body of the story, there was nowhere it explained what the headline portrayed that the newly established Sports Commission is being investigated, it is therefore very easy to conclude that the writer was intentional in a bid to malign the newly established sports commission,” the statement read in part.
“As much as the leadership of the NSC under the Chairmanship of Mallam Shehu Dikko and Honourable Bukola Olopade as Director General, are media-friendly administrators, the commission will not accept a deliberate effort to damage the new brand that it’s starting to build.
“Setting the record very straight, it is important to state that the EFCC only asked the commission to furnish it with relevant documents concerning the Nigeria Football Federation.
“The EFCC did this because the National Sports Commission is the apex body of Sports in the country, which has all the various sports federations under it.”
