Mr Pinnick
Ousted President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, may be set for financial inquisition of his term as the head of the agency as the Federal Government has concluded investigation and are set for his prosecution of the “monumental stealing and financial crimes” levied against him. The fraud is in the region of about N15billion.
www.gongnews.net authoritatively can reveal that as part of the investigation, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) which received the original petition against Pinnick demanded from the Ministry of Sports for a preliminary investigation.
In a letter dated 6th June received on the 11th June with reference number EFCC/EC/MOS/99/16 sent to the Permanent Secretary and signed by Mr Bernard U. Ajewole, the EFCC said: “I am directed by the Ag. Executive Chairman to forward to you the following petition for investigation and further necessary action. The original letter of the petition is attached for your use.”
Sources in the Ministry disclosed that, “a small committee was set up to check the allegations. What has been discovered is truly monumental. It is jaw-dropping. The report had recommended for the prosecution of the persons and companies named. Seven members of the Amaju Pinnick board may be facing eventual prosecution.”
It is the report from the Ministry of Sports which confirmed the details in the original petition and even added some other facts that has informed the invitation that was sent to Pinnick to come for a chat. The EFCC invitation was sent to all his known addresses.
From the look of things, League Management Company (LMC) chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, his company Mediterranean Sports Limited, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, Alhaji Ahmed Yusuf Fresh and another company Financial Derivatives Company Limited may be the principal parties.
The entire size of the financial fraud is reputedly settled around N15billion. These include donations, sponsorship funds, grants etc Already, a team of forensic experts have been gathered who also have concluded their reports.
To make the prosecution water tight and ensure it does not end like the Lulu matter, we have integrated all the petitions against Pinnick. We had to deploy some of our best investigators to do the job. We have been on it since April ending when we received the petition. Government is keen to quickly dispense with the prosecution.
One of our previous teams had visited FIFA headquarters to ascertain the monies from that institution. Two, some of the officials of the NFF in the Aminu Maigari board have to come and explain some things to us. Truly, I don’t know that you people in sports are so violently wreckless. Chai! The impunity is taller than heaven. We have done our brief and gotten approval to prosecute. Just a little checks here and there and we go.”(Gongnews)
