Dalung insists NFF must account be audited

Youth and Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, yesterday insisted that the accounts of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) must be audited following allegations that the football body mismanaged some of the grants it recently received from world football governing body, FIFA.

Dalung had directed the NFF to appoint an independent auditor to look into the books of the federation and also provide minutes of nomination by the Congress of its President, Mr. Amaju Pinnick, to vie for a CAF seat during its Congress on Sunday.

“I received a communiqué of the Congress, which referred to my action as uninformed. Instead of providing me with the minutes, the Congress went ahead to endorse its president, two weeks after its Secretary-General had sent a letter of his nomination to CAF,” Dalung said.

The minister emphasised that government was yet to nominate anybody to contest for the CAF seat, adding, “The Ministry of Youth and Sports wants to make it clear that Nigeria has not endorsed anybody to contest. The Ministry will constitute a committee to screen and recommend to government, a suitable candidate who will represent Nigeria.”

Dalung also stated that since the Federation had failed to appoint an independent auditor to audit its accounts, government had no option than to embark on a full-scale investigation of those issues raised at the congress.

“FIFA’s forensic audit has raised concerns about documentation of the federation’s accounts. 19 grave issues were identified in FIFAs audit report, which needs to be looked into. The Federal Government has already set machinery in motion to embark on a fullscale investigation of those issues.

“We are committed to getting rid of all obstacles capable of destroying probity, credibility, transparency and accountability in sports administration in Nigeria,” he added.