Nigeria’s minister of sports, Mr. Solomon Dalung has called for an audit of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) over claims that $802,000 is unaccounted for in the federation’s report.
This development has led the world football’ governing body, FIFA to halt the annual $1.1 million grant to Nigeria. Dalung called for an audit at the NFF’s Annual General Meeting in Lagos,
“According to a report, Fifa has withheld all development funds to Nigeria for lack of proper documentation of $802,000 out of the funds released to NFF,” said Dalung.
“This is a very serious issue that must be given urgent attention to avoid another international embarrassment.
“Even more so that the present administration under the leadership of Mr. President, His Excellency, Mohammadu Buhari has zero tolerance for any act of misappropriation, misapplication, embezzlement or fraud in any guise.
“To this end, the NFF is directed to immediately provide my office with detail information of receipt, disbursement, and application of the Fifa development grant accordingly.
“In addition, a reputable audit firm should be appointed urgently to check the account books of the federation to ensure that funds are judiciously expended.
“The audit report must be made public so as to promote transparency, build credibility and enhance your market value.”
The NFF has insisted that an audit has been carried out earlier with no discrepancies and said in a statement that ‘the minister was clearly misinformed about the activities of the NFF board’.