Nigeria’s Federal High Court, Abuja Division, on Tuesday, struck out the case of fraud brought against the President of the Nigerian Football Federation, (NFF) Amaju Pinnick.
The court made the decision following an application by the federal government to withdraw its case against Mr Pinnick and others accused of mismanaging money gotten from the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA).
The federal government had in May arraigned Mr Pinnik and four others on 18 counts charge of allegedly diverting the sum of $150k, which was given to the NFF as fees for appearing at the last Russia 2018 World Cup.
The five officials, including the NFF Secretary, Sunusi Mohammed; the 1st Vice-President, Seyi Akinwumi; the 2nd Vice-President, Shehu Dikko and an Executive member, Yusuff Fresh, were accused of misappropriating N4 billion without the approval of the NFF.
They were also alleged to have contravened the law by failing to declare their assets.
They were arraigned by the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property (SPIP) led by Okoi Obono-Obla.
The SPIP panel, then led by Okoi Obono-Obla, has since been dissolved by President Muhammadu Buhari. Mr Obono-Obla is himself wanted for allegedly forging a WAEC certificate.