Ministry of Sports Opens Up on Ighalo's Transfer Fund As Lawmakers Probe Further

  Ministry of Sports Opens Up on Ighalo's Transfer Fund As Lawmakers Probe Further By Editor

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Osun State Ministry of Youth and Sports has confirmed that Osun United's proceed from the transfer fund of former Super Eagles striker, Odion Ighalo from Shanghai Shenhua to Manchester United in January 2020 is in the custody of the Ministry. Co-ordinating Director, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Osun State, Mr. Agunlejika confirmed this to the House of Assembly Committee on Youth and Sports during the ongoing lawmakers investigation into how the funds accrued to Osun United and the Sports Council are being spent. At the meeting presided over by the Chairman House Committee on Youth and Sports, Hon. Adirulahi Adegbile, flanked by other committee members where leadership of Osun United and the Sports Council were grilled, the Director, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mr. Layi Adesiyan explained how the money was received and kept by the Ministry. "It is true that Osun United received €10,000 share of Ighalo's loan from Shanghai Shenhua to Manchester United this year. However, we have to pay some percentages of the money to the foreign agent and other parties involved as contained in the agreement Late Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi had with the agent and Mr. Gbenga Ololade. After this was done, the remaining money is with the Ministry," stated Mr. Adesiyan. Corroborating Mr. Layi Adesiyan, the Co-ordinating Director of the Ministry, Mr. Taiwo Agunlejika said "I got to know of the recent money paid to Osun United through the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr. Yemi Lawal, the Director of Sports and Mr. Gbenga Ololade. Meanwhile after they have settled the agent's fee and Mr. Ololade's share as contained in the agreement, the remaining amount is #3.1m and is intact and under the watch of the Ministry." The House Committee on Sports therefore promised to reconcile all bank accounts operated by Osun United and mandated Mr. Adesiyan to furnish it with details of Osun United's players' transfer record from 2016 till date which should be brought forward to the next meeting scheduled for next week.