EFCC To Probe NFF Boss Pinnick, Dikko, Others

EFCC To Probe NFF Boss Pinnick, Dikko, Others

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is set to investigate and take necessary action against Nigeria Football Federation President Amaju Pinnick, Mallam Shehu Dikko and three other top members of the board.

This comes after Sports Minister Solomon Dalung asked the Pinnick-led board to step aside following a court ruling in Jos paving the way for Chris Giwa to assume leadership of the Glass House.

EFCC said it’s probing the Glass House following a petition it received from a former national team coach, James Peters on May 4, 2018 with a heading: ‘MONUMENTAL STEALING AND FINANCIAL CRIMES IN THE NIGERIA FOOTBALL FEDERATION’ addressed to the Executive Chairman of EFCC on May 4, 2018.

In the petition, Peters, a former Technical Director of the NFF, urged the EFCC to carry out a thorough investigation on an alleged “unprecedented stealing, corrupt practices and financial crimes being perpetrated by the current President Amaju Pinnick, the General Secretary Dr Mohammed Sanusi, the first Vice President Barrister Seyi Akinwumi, the second Vice President Mallam Shehu Dikko and a member of the Executive Committee Alhaji Ahmed Yusuf (a.k.a Fresh).

The former Technical Director also alleged “stealing and fraudulent activities by Financial Derivatives Limited, a company cunningly brought into the NFF by Pinnick for the sole purpose of saving money outside the official accounts of the NFF in the Central Bank and diverting same for fraudulent activities.”

Similarly, the petition stated that “these NFF chieftains have also used the company Mediterranean Sports Limited belonging to Dikko, who is also the Chairman of the League Management Company, a body saddled with the responsibility of running the Elite league, and attracts millions of dollars from sponsorships and Chairman, Marketing and Sponsorship sub-committee of the NFF to collect over 40 per cent of revenues from the numerous sponsors of the NFF “.

Consequently, the EFCC wrote to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, stating it has received a petition from Peters and would commence investigation.

Pinnick, meanwhile, has appealed his removal by Dalung, with a ruling expected next week.