Nigeria ex-international and chairman Task Force of the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria (PFAN), Harrison Jalla, has called on President Bola Tinubu and all security operatives in the country to look into how money raised for the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup was spent.
“In the build-up to and participation of Nigeria in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, the Federal Government of Nigeria approved the sum of N3.2 billion for the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to support the Super Eagles at least to the round of 16,” Jalla said in a message to The Guardian, backing his claims with documents.
“It was out of this sum that the Federal Government released the sum of N1.5 billion as the first tranche. FIFA released the sum of $1.5 million, while CAF released the sum of $1 million each to the five countries representing the continent in preparation for the World Cup.
“In spite of these available funds, the Federal Government, through the office of Chief of Staff to former President, Muhammadu Buhari, the late Alhaji Abba Kyari, opened the gate for the NFF’s principal officers to freely raise funds from individuals, corporate organisations, and state governments,” he stated.
Jalla continued: “Some of the donations are as follows: Lagos State: N100 million; Delta State: N80 million; Abia State: N20 million; Rivers State: N100 million; Akwa Ibom State: N70 million; Plateau State: N30 million; NDDC: N40 million; Federal Inland Revenue Service: N20 million; CBN: N30 million; NNPC: N50 million; Senator Bukola Saraki: N200 million; Prince Arthur Eze-N25 million.
“There were several other donations from individuals and corporate organisations that were alleged to have been clandestinely collected unannounced and out of public glare.
“Six months after the World Cup, where the Super Eagles crashed out at the group stage, it took the intervention of the permanent secretary, the Federal Ministry of Sports and Youth Development, through a letter dated December 12, 2018 with reference No. FMYSD/FEAD/NFF/GM/0142/2012/CON/193, to compel the NFF to get a response on the retirement of the N1.5 billion, which was conveyed in a letter dated December 13, 2018 (attached).
“The one-page retirement was full of lies, misappropriation, misapplication, outright fraud, fabrication, fictitious claims, and embezzlement of government funds. The retirement was not backed up with receipts, vouchers, approvals, and supporting documentation,” Jalla stated.
