FIFA $150,000 Palliative To NFF Will Disappear - NANF Tells Nigerians Not To Celebrate

FIFA $150,000 Palliative To NFF Will Disappear Soon - NANF Tells Nigerians Not To Celebrate

By Niyi Busari

The National Association of Nigeria Footballers (NANF) stated without fear of contradiction that Nigeria Football stakeholders should not celebrate the $150,000 FIFA Covid 19 palliative as it will disappear same way the 2018 FIFA world cup grant disappeared, BSNSports.com.ng can report.

This is contained in a statement signed by the president of the players union, Harrison Jalla who alleged that, Pinnick-led NFF, on assumption of office in September 2014 through the back door inherited the sum of $8.4m 2014 world cup grant, left behind by the the predecessor Alhaji Aminu Maigari.

However, the statement continues, "on 18th December 2014 into NFF Zenith bank domiciliary account number 5070407456. This fund was alleged diverted into private pockets by Amaju Pinnick and his gangs. The 2014 FIFA grant is a subject of investigation by the anti-graft agencies as we speak."

"The FIFA tradition is to pay world cup grants every December in every world cup year usually six months after the world cup to all countries who participated. Where is Nigeria share of the 2018 world cup paid by FIFA to the NFF in December 2018?" The Players Union asked.

"Having confirmed that the 2018 FIFA world cup grant was not paid through the main NFF Domiciliary accounts with Zenith Bank and UBA. The NANF made an official enquiry to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) relying on the Freedom of information ACT, to get information on the inflow of the 2018 FIFA world cup grant. The NANF enquiry seems to have been influenced and blocked by the CBN declining the release of the information through the FOI ACT through a second letter to NANF.

"The NANF has accordingly passed on the enquiry to the appropriate anti- graft agencies. So why are football stakeholders celebrating a mere $150,000 FIFA covid 19 palliative?

"We saw the 2014 FIFA world grant the account the fund came in through are in the public domain. NANF also told Nigerians the story how it was allegedly diverted every cent of it. But Where is the 2018 world cup money? It appears to have disappeared into thin air, same way the covid 19 palliative will soon disappear. But as part of our statutory responsibility in NANF to hold the NFF accountable we have absolute confidence that the anti-graft agencies would soon unravel the mystery surrounding the disappearance of the 2018 FIFA world cup grant to Nigeria.

"The NFF as a public institution in which we are stakeholders must account for funds meant for football development. Since the NFF relocated base to Stephen Keshi stadium Asaba as home ground for super Eagles and other National teams, the Delta state government in its magnanimity is alleged to have spent over Two Billion naira (2.5B Naira) in hosting Super Eagles matches and sadly these funds never reflected in any of the NFF accounts."