A meeting of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) and the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development ended at the weekend with the Federation being asked to clean up its acts and address the negative perception around if its activities.
The ministry also indicated it will not interfere with how the nation’s anti-graft agencies do their work as it pertains to the ongoing investigation of some NFF board members.
Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare, who handed down the prescription at the meeting, noted that the perception of corruption around NFF and its seeming lack of seriousness is hurting the sport.
He stressed that beyond cleaning up its acts the “NFF needs to be more transparent in the way it conducts its affairs.
“The perception is that the NFF is corrupt. The perception is that of unseriousness; this perception is hurting the sport.
“We need to reset the perception, the charge of corruption and other negative things can be turned around by embracing transparency.
“The executive board (of NFF) should learn to do things differently, the Minister will not interfere with EFCC or ICPC since it is important to allow these organizations follow their own due processes. We must allow them to do their work,” Mr Dare stated.
NFF President, Mr Amaju Pinnick with some other board members had lamented the ongoing investigation of some of them by anti-graft agencies saying they now “feel unsafe”.
He promised that the NFF will henceforth provide updates to the minister by sending him memos “for every fund received” as proof of the federation’s commitment to the prescribed era of transparency.
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“The executive board (of NFF) should learn to do things differently, the Minister will not interfere with EFCC or ICPC since it is important to allow these organizations follow their own due processes. We must allow them to do their work,” Mr Dare stated”.
I am happy with what I’m reading today on CSN. I can understand that CSN wasn’t be able to repot NFF news before now because this people are evil. I don’t blame CSN. Kudos to you CSN. It’s not easy to do this.
I am seeing myself in new sports minister. We need transparency. This is the definition of “REVOLUTION” that “OMOYELE” have been fighting for. It may take a while but we will get there by God’s grace.
“NFF President, Mr Amaju Pinnick with some other board members had lamented the ongoing investigation of some of them by anti-graft agencies saying they now “feel unsafe”.
I respect Mr. Amaju before now but not anymore. CSN and other sports writers should please investigate why Mr. Amaju and his colleagues were removed from CAF.
These Cabals are powerful. Everything is politics as far as they are concerned.
They knew that their secrets are leaking out and they didn’t like that and that is the reason why they organized Nigeria vs Brazil friendly match because they knew that Nigerians like Grade A friendly matches and that would diverting our attentions from them. Sorry NFF, next try.
The new sports minister is not safe. The cabals will not like him because he doesn’t support them. May God be with you our new sports minister.
“He promised that the NFF will henceforth provide updates to the minister by sending him memos “for every fund received” as proof of the federation’s commitment to the prescribed era of transparency”.
Maybe this is why Dalug was fighting NFF president but we didn’t know. Because we thought Mr. Amaju is a good person. God is great. The judgement day is here finally.
The cabals are in trouble now. If we don’t think so, read below. REVOLUTION IS HERE. WELCOME TO NEW ERA.
12 houses of NFF president Pinnick, Shehu Dikko, Sanusi, Ahmed Yusuf seized, ICPC insists it won’t stop corruption probe.
ICPC has insisted its wide-ranging corruption probe of the NFF will not be stopped by any top government official just as it announced that so far 12 houses belonging to top officials Amaju Pinnick, Shehu Dikko, Mohammed Sanusi and Ahmed Yusuf ‘Fresh’ have been seized by the anti-graft agency.
SCORENigeria first reported that NFF president Pinnick and vice president Shehu Dikko dashed off to the chief of staff of President Muhammadu Buhari, Abba Kyari, to intervene in the matter.
We have further learnt that both senior officials also ran to sports minister Sunday Dare among other government top shots and they have met a brick wall.
ICPC spokesperson Rasheedat Okoduwa told The Punch the anti-corruption agency is independent of any top government official and so it is carrying on with its massive probe of the NFF.
“If we are continuing with our work, including enforcement action, then I don’t see any influence in that regard,” Okoduwa said.
“If we are going ahead with our work, then there is no credence to the allegation. Our action shows that we are independent in the investigation.”
ICPC listed the 12 houses of the officials it has so far seized because “what they have is in excess of what they have earned”
Pinnick’s properties seized are a mansion located at 2C Layi Ajayi Bembe Street, Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos; a bungalow located at 3, Oritsejafor Close, GRA, Warri; Brownhill Event Centre located at Plot 6/7 ELF Road, Ogunmu-Warri, Warri Central, Delta State.
Other Pinnick’s properties seized by the anti-graft agency are a bungalow located at First House, 3rdStreet, DDPA Housing Estate, besides Delta Broadcasting Service, Asaba, Delta State; an apartment at Regents Plaza, 8 Greville Road, North Maida Vale, London NW6 5HU, UK; Plot 1805 Cadastral Zone A10 Maitama II, Abuja vide Right of Occupancy dated 15/05/2019 with file no. DT 64003.
The document listed Sanusi’s seized properties as the house beside the Mosque of Alheri School, off Tsafe Road, near Guiwa Low-cost Housing Estate, Sokoto; Plot 8001 Cadastral Zone E08 vide offer letter dated May 15, 2019 with file number KW30584; and a property at 6A, Tangier Street, off Sudan Street, Zone 6, Abuja.
Two seized properties belonging to Yusuf, according to the document, are a bungalow located at First House on Prison Yard Road, off David Mark Road, Minna, Niger State; and another bungalow located at Bosso Estate, behind State Government, Orphanage Home, Minna, Niger State.
“This is the first phase of the investigation. Others may be involved later but I can confirm to you that many officials of the NFF are under investigation,” a source informed.
The agency dismissed allegations it did not get a court order before it made the seizure.
“There are different instances that warrant getting court orders. To seize, our (ICPC) Chairman has the power to do so according to our law,” Okoduwa said.
ICPC also said it did not repaint the houses of both Pinnick and Shehu Dikko following some misleading information on social media.
“Both Dikko and Pinnick’s sealed properties remain seized. If the seals are removed, those that did that are not our officials. We are investigating something about them,” the agency’s spokesperson explained.
Hmmmm. This is why Nigerians remain poorer because we are transparent. We are celebrating bad people. The problem we are facing today is our leaders. They are selfish, callous and bad. REVOLUTION IS ON. GOD BLESS NIGERIA!!!
We are not transparent I mean to say.
why are you always on controversial human being this omo Naija hmmmmm