Investigation ongoing, outcome will determine Pinnick, Dikko’s arraignment ~ ICPC

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission may arraign president, Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Pinnick; and Shehu Dikko for alleged fraud.

Th anti-grant agency said the outcome of its investigation will, however, determine whether or not the two individuals will be arraigned in court for prosecution.

Pinnick and the Second Vice President of NFF, Dikko, are being investigated by the ICPC over alleged FIFA grant misappropriation.

ICPC spokesperson, Mrs. Rasheedat Okoduwa, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Sunday.

NAN reports that the commission had, on its twitter handle, posted that “ICPC places under investigation, mansion belonging to Amaju Pinnick, President of Nigeria Football Federation, located in Park View Estate, Lagos.

“The Commission has also placed a mansion in Maitama, belonging to Dikko under investigation.”

Okoduwa explained that the commission so far has reasonable suspicion that the emoluments that have been earned by the NFF officials could not have bought those houses.

“Investigating around assets probably acquired through proceeds of crime is one of the first steps in corruption investigation,” she said.

While noting that the commission was proceeding with the investigation, Okoduwa said that when completed, the Press would be briefed on the details.

“Our official have proceeded with the investigation, when they are ready, they will let me know and I will tell you people.

“We want to keep things under wraps for now, so that we don’t expose too much information that will jeopardise the investigation.

On possible arraignment of the NFF officials, Okoduwa said that “they can only be arraigned after the investigation.

“Arraignment is when we are ready to go to court and we have all the facts, and if the investigation points to the direction of arraignment and they are indicted, they are real suspects, then we take them for arraignment.

“If after the investigation, they were able to prove to us that they got the houses legitimately and they are cleared of other allegations, then we don’t arraign,” Okoduwa said.

(NAN)