President Buhari’s N17 billion audit order unsettles Nigeria Football Federation

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

In a bid to examine the Federal Government (FG) audit of 17 billion Naira disbursed to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) since 2015 when President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office, NFF Executives are expected to meet on Monday.

As the current administration under President Buhari plans to hand over to newly elected Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the government has ordered agencies, departments, and parastatals under its purview including NFF to give accounts of funds disbursed to it under the current administration.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports Development through Sports Minister, Sunday Dare copying the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) and Confederation of African Football (CAF) has given an order to this effect.

Part of the funds disbursed to NFF which totaled 17 billion Naira are the FG Intervention Funds for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia as well as those for the 2019 and 2021 African Cup of Nations (AFCONs).

“This order is giving the NFF a lot of problems,” a top source told www.insideglasshouse.com.

“The main contention is that it was not this Board that received these monies, rather it was the immediate past administration led by Amaju Pinnick and as such that should be the Board that ought to account for the monies.”

According to FG records, it paid NFF over 2 Billion Naira for the Super Eagles’ participation at the 2018 World Cup where the team crashed out at the group stage with two defeats to beaten finalist, Croatia and 2022 World Cup Champions, Argentina coupled with a 2-0 win over Iceland.

The NFF received a first payment of 1.5 Billion Naira, which was calculated to take the national team to the quarterfinal of the 2018 World Cup.

Moreso, the Federal Government paid the budget expected to cater for Nigeria’s participation at AFCON 2021 till the final match but the team, unfortunately, crashed out in the Round of 16 after a 1-0 loss to Tunisia.

Former NFF President and FIFA Council Member, Amaju Pinnick reportedly handed over no file to the current Executive Committee as the NFF are believed to be in debts to the tune of over Two Billion Naira (N2 billion).

Moreover, General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, is reportedly one of those to account for the huge financial support the football federation enjoyed from the Government for the past eight years as he has been on both Boards.

“Sanusi should account for these monies as he is the common denominator of both NFF Boards and he is also the Chief Executive of the Secretariat,” he said.