Federal High Court Confirms NFF Service of Court Orders To Appear On July 1st

Federal High Court Confirms NFF Service of Court Orders To Appear On July 1st

By Olamilekan Fadaka

The Federal High Court of Nigeria in Abuja on Monday, 10th June confirmed that the five Nigeria Football Federation officials involved in the alleged mismanagement of funds have been served through substituted means by giving a copy of the charge in the matter and other court processes to the defendants and therefore should appear before it on July 1st.

www.bsnsports.com.ng can report that the Federal Government of Nigeria had on Monday 27th May 2019 through an Ex-parte motion prayed before the court to serve the five defendants through substituted means having failed to appear before the Special Presidential Investigative Panel (SPIP) after several invitations to come and clear their names which was granted by the court.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has therefore asked the five Nigeria Football Federal officials which includes; NFF president, Amaju Pinnick, 1st Vice President, Seyi Akinwunmi, 2nd Vice president, Shehu Dikko, Secretary General, Dr Muhamed Sanusi and board member, Ahmed Yusuf Fresh to appear before it on July 1st 2019 to clear their names in N4 billion alleged fraud leveled against them.

The Federal Government of Nigeria had dragged the five NFF chieftains to court with an alleged misappropriation of $ 8, 400 said to have been paid by FIFA to the NFF .

It was alleged that the money was paid by FIFA to the NFF as Nigeria ’s appearance fees in the group state of the Brazil 2014 World Cup .

The five defendants were also accused of “moving dishonestly and intentionally the sum of about N 4bn ” belonging to the NFF without the consent of the NFF .

The Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property led by Mr Okoi Obono- Obla , which instituted the case , also accused the defendants of failure and neglect to declare their assets .
The case, marked FHC/ ABJ/ CR / 93 / 2019 , filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, May 7th, contained 17 counts charges.