By Wale Emosu
A 17-count charge ranging from criminal breach of trust, refusal to declare assets, misappropriation of public funds to theft by conversion has been filed against the president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick and other four members of the Executive Committee of the NFF.
The other four members of the NFF Executive Committee who will be standing trial before the Special Presidential Investigative Panel which will be sitting in the Federal High Court, Abuja, are the NFF first vice-president, Seyi Akinwunmi; the second vice-president, Shehu Dikko; the NFF General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi and the chairman of the NFF technical committee, Yusuf Ahmed Fresh.
The charge sheet number FHC/ABJ/CR/93/2019, which was seen by Tribunesport, was signed by Celsus Ukpong, the chief legal officer of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), on behalf of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
Among the charges against the NFF chiefs are refusal to declare, on about December 12, 2018, assets without reasonable excuse and upon notice to declare assets before the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property, Abuja; on about 2014 during the FIFA World Cup at Abuja… conspired to commit an offence to wit: criminal breach of trust by a public servant by converting to personal use about the sum of $8,400,000 paid by FIFA to the NFF as appearances fees.
The charge also includes moving dishonestly and intentionally, on or about November 3, 2018, the sum of about N4billion being property of in possession of the Nigeria Football Federation and without consent of the said NFF.
Some of the personalities who will be standing as witnesses when the trial begins are Solomon Dalung, the Minister of Sports; Christopher Green and Chief Ayodele Ajayi, both former members of the NFF Executive Committee and Harrison Jalla, a former footballer.