How NFF Used 'Borrowed' Concept To Divert N157m Federal Govt Funds - Baribote

World Cup Retirement Funds; How NFF Used 'Borrowed' Concept To Divert N157m Federal Govt Funds - Baribote By Niyi Busari Former Nigeria Premier League (NPL) Chairman, Barrister Rumson Baribote has finally uncovered how Nigeria Football Federation hide under the misuse of 'borrowed' concept to divert One hundred and Fifty-seven million naira (N157 million) government funds. NFF had in 2018 admitted that Federal Government of Nigeria paid the sum of N1.5 billion after Super Eagles first game in Russia to take care of the teams' expenses during world cup from the first game to the quarter finals. However, NFF had denied receiving a dime from Nigeria government through Ministry of Youth and Sports in three years but later shamefully admitted when the Minister of Youth and Sports insisted that the Federation give account of how N1.5 billion world cup funds from government was spent. NFF in their retirement letter in items 12,13, 14 and 15 claimed that the federation borrowed funds from the world cup money to be used for other assignment. Baribote noted that what the Federation did was nothing but misappropriation of public funds. According to him, BORROW is defined as getting permission from an owner before using something that belongs to someone else for a period of time before returning it. In his words; "Retirement is a written document that explains or to give an account of how money that was given to a person or organization was spent on the purpose with which it was released. "Last year NFF admitted that the sum of N1.5 billion was released during 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. The amount which was meant to take care of Super Eagles and officials from the first match to the quarterfinals. And from what i know most of the thing they claimed the money was used for was not correct. "Despite the fact that NFF had admitted that they erred because the literal meaning of borrow is different from what is portrayed in the 2018 World Cup Retirement statement.. "When you borrow someone's property without the owner's consent and permission, irrespective of the intention whether good or bad, it amounts to stealing. "NFF in their retirement statement claimed that they borrowed $237,00 to pay Falconets while in actual fact the girls are still crying that they have not been paid. "So, the question is, if truly, Falconets players and officials have not been paid, where is the money? Who is keeping FG money? Are they going to pay the girls with the interests accrued? Or is the money with CBN? He asked. "And since, they said they borrow the money and used it to pay Falconets that means they have admitted that they have used World Cup funds for another thing. There is no doubt that this is amount to misappropriation and or misapplication of government funds which is a punishable offence. Using public funds without approval from the source is also means that NFF are culpable.