01062019 - APC lawmakers move against party

46—SATURDAY Vanguard, JUNE 1, 2019
Pinnick fights back:
We are being
victimised
President of the Nigeria
Football Federation (NFF)
Amaju Pinnick says he and
four other top officials are being
"victimised".
Pinnick was reacting to the court
summons to top NFF officials who
were ordered to appear in court on
1 July to face charges over the
alleged misappropriation of funds.
The case has been brought by the
Special Presidential Investigation
Panel (SPIP) for the recovery of
public property.
"The motive for this media trial is
purely destructive, it's a deepseated
emotional, obsessional and
delusional hatred," Pinnick insisted.
"This is not the first time, we
believe all the false allegations are
aimed at destroying our credibility
and what we've built."
He went on to explain that none
of the officials have been personally
informed of the court summons and
feels that the country's Attorney
General should be involved.
"The prosecution lawyer claimed
he couldn't serve the NFF officials
and was given permission to serve
at the NFF office, while the case was
adjourned to 1 July," Pinnick added.
"We are not ordered to appear
before a court in a case that is before
the Attorney General of the
Federation (AGF) for an
independent review."
Pinnick alongside NFF vice
presidents Seyi Akinwunmi and
Shehu Dikko, general secretary
Mohammed Sanusi and board
member Ahmed Yusuf have denied
all the charges and that they have
no case to answer.
In the last two weeks, Nigerian
Athletics has trended, albeit for the
wrong reasons. What makes this
development really frustrating is
the fact that the issues that have
brought about this international
embarrassment could have been
avoided if better handled by those at
the helm of affairs of Sports in
this country.
Two weeks ago it was revealed
that the International Association of
Athletics Federations (IAAF) had
given Nigeria an ultimatum of
two weeks to refund a sum of
$135,000 which was paid in error to
Nigeria
in May 2017. In the process of
paying a $15,000 grant to Nigeria,
an extra zero was added in error, thus
a sum of $150,000 was credited to
Nigeria instead of the $15,000
initially intended.
It is said that two months later, the
IAAF notified the Athletics
Federation of Nigeria (AFN) of the
error
and ever since, it’s been a game of
hide and seek as it concerns
refunding the balance of the money.
The
IAAF had to resort to sending the
now much publicized letter a few
weeks ago, threatening to sanction
Nigeria if the money wasn’t
refunded within two weeks.
Well, it’s past the deadline now but
I understand that the AFN board has
written to the IAAF to plead for
more time to pay the money.
Going by the controversy this issue
has generated, I do not think that
the
AFN was left with much of a choice
in this issue. However, knowing what
obtains in this country, it is
highly unlikely that the real
culprits that diverted and
mismanaged these funds will be held
accountable
for their actions. It won’t be a
surprise if this issue eventually gets
swept under the carpet as it is wont
The charges being pursued by the
SPIP include failure to declare their
assets, the alleged disappearance of
US$8.4 million paid by Fifa to
Nigeria for participation in the 2014
World Cup and arranging
international friendly matches that
do not take place.
Prosecution lawyer Celsius
Ukpong, from the SPIP insisted on
Thursday: "We are expecting the
accused persons, the defendants, to
come to court and take their plea."
When two
Elephants fight,
the grass suffers
to in a place like Nigeria, and life
goes on as usual.
It sounded incredulous to hear the
immediate past Minister of Sports,
Solomon Dalung accuse the IAAF
of blackmail while speaking with
members of the press last weekend
at the Okpekpe 10km International
Race.
According to Dalung, “I think
Nigeria has been unfairly treated
because the issue has been promoted
as
if there was any wrongdoing on
the side of Nigeria; certainly not.
Grants were released to Nigeria on
the
17th of May 2017; IAAF on the
19th confirmed the transaction. Just
for IAAF after two months to turn
round and cry foul, that it was a
mistake. I mean a transaction that
was done and confirmed suddenly
turned mistake. I smell a rat in the
whole thing and I believe the whole
thing has been orchestrated and
is an attempt just to blackmail
Pinnick is adamant that
the problems away from
the pitch will not affect
Nigeria's preparations for
the Africa Cup of Nations.
"We don't want to lose
focus. Their plan is to get
us distracted and get us
destroyed but we are
resilient," Pinnick added.
"We are not telling you we
are saints, we are
humans and we can
make mistakes.
But the good
news about us
is that our
mistakes we
turn to
learning
process.
"It's human
to be
intelligent to
learn from mistakes and be
resurgent enough to bounce back.
That's what we'll do."
It is not the first time officials of
the NFF will be involved in
corruption allegations.
Back in 2010, four former officials
were arrested amid accusations that
some $8m went missing during the
World Cup finals in South Africa.
It took eight years for the quartet
to be acquitted by the anti-graft
agency.
Chukwueze: I'm flattered by
Liverpool links
illarreal winger Samuel
VChukwueze has admitted
that he is flattered to be linked with
a big-money move to Liverpool.
The Nigeria international was far
from a household name 12 months
ago but he has emerged as one of
Europe’s most coveted young
attackers after an excellent
breakthrough campaign in La
Liga.
Chukwueze scored ten goals in
total for Villarreal, including one
in a 4-4 draw with Barcelona in
which he tore the champions’
defence to shreds with his rapid
pace and direct dribbling.
According to The Mail,
Liverpool have identified a player
compared to Bayern Munich
legend Arjen Robben as a
potential summer signing –
despite the eye-watering £54
million release clause in his
Villarreal contract.
Chukwueze has made it clear
that he is thrilled to be linked with
a club of Liverpool’s stature though
he is happy with life at the Estadio
de la Ceramica.
“It’s good that I am linked to
great clubs, because that shows
that hard work has its reward,” the
20-year-old said when quizzed
about Liverpool’s interest.
“I do not want to rush to go to
another club. But if I ever had to
leave, I should make sure I go to a
club where I’m going to play.”
A
Nigeria.
“I made a mistake in transferring
money and I realized within 10
minutes and I called my bank and
retrieved the money. Why did it
take the IAAF two months to realize
a mistake? An international
organization, highly reputable. I
think it is not about money
erroneously credited to Nigeria but
there is
a calculated attempt just to
diminish and destroy Nigerian
Athletics, otherwise I don’t see where
they
call it mistake. We didn’t apply for
grant.
“What has Nigeria done? What is
the crime? They are asking for the
balance. Did we steal any money
from them? Did we ask them to
send any money to us? They
transferred money to us and after
two
months they woke up from
slumber. Is IAAF telling us that they
as disorganized as that? We are even
F/Eagles barred from media interviews
embers and technical staff of
Mthe junior national team, the
Flying Eagles have been barred from
speaking to the media apart from the
mandatory news conference ahead of
each game.
The Eagles coached by former
Enyimba gaffer Paul Aigbogun played
out a 1-1 draw against Ukraine in their
last Group D game on Thursday
evening after a 4-0 win and 2-0 defeat
to Qatar and USA respectively which
ensured they qualified as one of the
four best group losers.
The general performance of the team
has generated widespread criticisms
from Nigerians who have called the
...as BEFL kicked off with a bang
he much anticipated Bet9ja
TEkiti Football League (
BEFL), kicked off yesterday at
the Oluyemi Kayode stadium,
Ado-Ekiti with lots of
excitement and goals to the
delight of the impressive crowd
that included Ekiti State
Commissioner for Youths and
Sports Development, Hon.
Michael Awopetu; HRH, Oba
Ganiyu Obasoyin, the Olukere
of Ikere; the Permanent
Secretary, Ministry of Youths
and Sports Development, Mr
Yemi Owoseni and a host of
other dignataries.
Declaring the competition
open, Governor John Kayode
Fayemi who spoke through
Hon. Awopetu, reiterated the
commitment of his
administration towards the
development of Ekiti youths
and the provision of sports
facilities.
"My government shall
Ikpeba donates to Fregene
member of the Delta State Football
Association (DFA), Victor Ikpeba
has made a cash donation of two
hundred thousand (#200,000) to
embattled coach Peter Fregene who is
bed ridden and seeking for help in
medications and otherwise.
Ikpeba, an ex international and one
time African Footballer of the year sent
the cash through another ex
international and Acting chairman of
DFA Edema Fuludu.
not
convinced that it is a mistake.
Return what?
“If it is $15,000 why did they send
150,000? The difference between
15,000 and $150,000 is so large,
how did they make that kind of
mistake? I think those crying blue
murder and promoting this are
enemies of this country. We should
ask questions. We have not done
anything wrong. We will want IAAF
to convince us what the crime of
Nigeria is that they want to ban us.”
How does a Minister of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria so
blatantly justify the spending of
money that
wasn’t ours to spend in the first
place? When Nigeria was credited
with a sum of $150,000, why wasn’t
any effort made to find out what
the money was meant for, seeing
that it wasn’t normal to receive a
sum of that magnitude from the
IAAF?
Going by Dalungs’s response, one
Flying Eagles as the worst U-20
national team in recent times.
This, and the fact that the ages of the
players have been called into question
have made the team less receptive to
the idea of granting interviews.
"We have been told not to speak with
the media. I am sorry I cannot respond
to your questions," a camp source said.
"Surely we know that it won't be easy
now going into the knockout stages. I
cannot speak with you on any other
thing, please, I hope you understand,"
came the polite response.
The Flying Eagles will face Italy or
Senegal in the Round of 16 stages on
Monday.
Fayemi assures Ekiti on sports development
The Acting Chairman said in their
last meeting in Asaba Ikpeba said he
has read so much about the plight of
ex international Peter Fregene and
decided to make this personal
donation to assist him. Speaking at the
presentation, Edema Fuludu said
Ikpeba has a heart to help and it is not
about how much money one has. There
are people who are so poor that all they
have is money (Bob Marley).Victor
Ikpeba had his growing up in Sapele
continue to support sports and
particularly, the development of
youths in this state. I am also
impressed with what is
ongoing in Ekiti football and I
want to assure you of the
continued support and
encouragement of this
administration," Fayemi stated.
The competition swung into
action immediately after the
kick off by Oba Ganiyu
Obasoyin. The first match of the
day, saw Moyero fc defeated
Paul Omotosho fc 3-0. And it
was quickly followed by the
most exciting game of the day,
as the youngsters of Phoenix
ASC Center of Excellence, Ado
branch annihilated their bigger
opponents Clever Companion
fc 6-0.
In the other games of the day,
Golden Light fc narrowly lost to
Felix fc 2-3; as Ekiti East fc also
defeated Ayedun United 1-0.
And earlier, Ikole United
walked over Amilano fc who
did not turn up for the game.
•Ikpeba
and Peter Fregene is also from Sapele
and a football icon he looked up to.
would think that it took the IAAF
two years to realize their mistake.
The IAAF alleged that they had
been in talks with the AFN and
Sports Ministry for two years now,
and
even had a meeting with the
Minister last year during the African
Senior Athletics Championships
held in
Asaba in August, where he
allegedly recommitted to paying the
money. Why turn around and
suddenly
begin to act like the victim?
To add insult to injury, he more or
less dared the IAAF to do their worst.
How convenient, seeing that he
would no longer be on seat should
Nigeria be sanctioned, which makes
me question his interest in
sports development in the first
place. Because at the end of the day,
when two elephants fight, it is the
grass that suffers, which in this
case, would be the Nigerian athletes.