$9.5m FIFA Grant to NFF: Court Adjourns Case To April 30th

$9.5m FIFA Grant to NFF: Court Adjourns Case To April 30th By Niyi Busari A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama has adjourned the case of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) alleged misappropriation of $9.5 million and N1.3 million, to 30th April 2019, BSNSports.com.ng reports. The prosecutor, Mr. Steve Odiase, asked the court to adjourn the case to 30th April so as to enable the claimant (EFCC) to amend the initial charges. The defendants are Christopher Andekin, NFF Director of Administration and Finance, Reagan Zaka, Cashier and Fadanari Mamza, Head, Finance and Account Department. They were dragged to the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on five counts bordering on criminal conspiracy, breach of trust and misappropriation. The prosecutor, Mr Steve Odiase, has told the court that the three defendants conspired between January 8 and January 26, 2015, to commit the offences, contrary to Section 97 of Penal Code. Odiase alleged that Andekin was entrusted with money meant for the development of football in Nigeria, a grant from the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA). He said that Andekin, however, fraudulently diverted N1.3 million from the NFF domiciliary account with Zenith Bank, an act that is contrary to section 311 of the Penal Code. He further alleged that Zaka on his part, fraudulently diverted $7.2 million grant from FIFA for development of football in Nigeria while Mamza diverted $2.3 million. The defendants all pleaded not guilty to the charges, and their counsel, Mr Arinze Egbo applied for their bail. The Judge, Justice Peter Affen upheld the administrative bail granted to them earlier by the EFCC. The grant ($9.5m) was 2014 World Cup fund paid by FIFA to NFF for the development of grassroots football across the country but the present NFF Board in 2015 was alleged to have squandered the funds.