N1B Fraud: EFCC Invites Sani Lulu, Three Other Former NFF Members
San Francisco, July 06, (THEWILL) – The Economic and Financial Crimes commission (EFCC) today invited for questioning the impeached President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Mr. Sani Lulu alongside other impeached members of the body, Amanze Uchegbulam (former VP); Taiwo Ogunjoji (former Technical Committee Chairman) and General Secretary, Bolaji Ojo-Oba.
The EFCC is investigating the trio over a petition linking them with a N1 billion naira fraud in the soccer federation. They are expected to meet with operatives on Thursday in Abuja while THEWILL learnt they have been ordered not to leave Abuja until investigators close the case.
The petition written against the trio by members of the federation’s board lists various allegations including, "Alleged diversion and misappropriation of $5million grant from FIFA, CAF and other donors; mismanagement of another $1.2million grant from FIFA; why they took over 300 people to South Africa (not Supporters Club), including Personal Assistant to the General Secretary, weird members of Catering Committee, and a judge who is allegedly hearing a case in which some NFF members have interest."
Other allegations include, "Incurring a fine of $125,000 in South Africa over a deal with Hampshire Hotel in the course of looking for a cheap hotel for the Super Eagles. The hotel was below FIFA standard; alleged mismanagement of $250,000 to charter a faulty aircraft for the Super Eagles from London to South Africa; spending of $400,000 for a hidden friendly match between Colombia and Nigeria on a practicing pitch in London; release of N34million to NFF Electoral Committee to conduct an election to be attended by 44 delegates. The chairman of the committee is alleged to be a personal lawyer to the ex-NFF chairman."
"Disbursement of N185million bribe to state chairmen of Football Associations to vote for the return of the NFF board; failure to account for missing $236,000 in NFF’s coffers till date, sale of NFF Guest House in Wuse part of Abuja with the transaction’s file declared missing; and incurring reckless expenditure of N96million on purchase of buses for the use of NFF."
The NFF executives have been blamed for the poor state of Nigerian football especially the Eagles dismal performance at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
While inaugurating the 12-member Presidential Committee on Football Development today in Abuja, Sports Minister Ibrahim Bio accused the disbanded board of fraud and theft.
He said the board misappropriated funds set aside for the development of the sport in the country and singled them out for contributing to the Super Eagles woes in South Africa.