ICPC to Sieze More NFF Officials Properties over Fraud

By Sylvanus Ofekun

There are strong indications that top officials of the Nigeria Football Federation are in serious trouble, this follows investigation of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

Yesterday the anti graft agency sealed the Lagos
residence of the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju
Pinnick and the Abuja residence of his 2nd Vice President, Shehu Dikko.

A source who doesn’t want to disclose his identity
told thebreakingtimes.com that more seizure
will be made in the coming days.

“The allegations against those running football in Nigeria are so numerous and weighty that commission cannot over look. We have identified some properties owned by these men and we have gotten court order to seize them. We have the list of their properties of the top officials.It is a standard procedure of the Commission.If you want official position of the commission ask our spokesperson.” The source said.

It was gathered that officials of the commission
placed Pinnick’s house which is inside Parkview Estate in Ikoyi, Lagos, under
lock over the investigation on corruption allegations levelled against him.

Earlier on Friday, ICPC had sealed the residence
of the Chairman of the League Management Company and second vice-president of
NFF, Dikko, located at No. 1 River-Benue Street, Maitama, Abuja, over alleged
corrupt practices in the federation.

The anti-graft agency said it was in connection
with an ongoing investigation on the alleged monumental mismanagement of funds
meant for the development of grassroots football in the country.

Mrs. Rasheedat Okoduwa, spokesperson of ICPC
confirmed the development.

“Unfortunately I cannot tell you much because we
do not want to tip off those that are involved in the latest case. The
investigation is still ongoing, a lot went wrong and we believe that with
discrete investigation our operatives are doing, we will get to the root of the
matter.”

“It is true that ICPC sealed Shehu Dikko’s
Maitama residence this morning. He is being investigated with others over fresh
corruption charges. It has nothing to do with the cases of SPIP or EFCC,” she
said.

According to the ICPC, the investigation is to
uncover financial malpractices in the football association, allegedly involving
Dikko and other executives.

The NFF has been on the watch-list of the
anti-corruption agencies. The federation is also currently under investigation
by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Special
Presidential Investigation Panel on Recovery of Public Property (SPIP).

The executives of the federation have been
accused of diverting funds meant for the association.