The Nigeria Football Federation has queried the leadership of the Nigeria Premier League in respect of allegations of inappropriate management of funds related to broadcast right fees, as contained in the report of its auditors. The auditors’ report was exclusively published by The PUNCH last Thursday and Friday.
The NFF President Aminu Maigari who spoke on Saturday through the federation’s Chief Media Officer Ademola Olajire said, “The NFF is highly concerned for the integrity of the Nigeria Premier League, which has been built to a presentable brand as a result of over 20 years of hard work, and which was recently rated as best in Africa.
“We cannot afford to fold our arms and remain silent over such a matter that directly attacks the credibility of an important aspect of the Nigeria game.
“The NFF is deeply concerned and we are determined to get to the root of this matter.”
The officials have said that they are only awaiting a detailed response from the leadership of the Nigeria Premier League before taking further action.
Our correspondent learnt on authority that NFF board members are also scheduled to meet in Abuja in a follow up to the query issued to its affiliate. Monday was tentatively fixed in the heat of the scandal but it was not clear by Sunday night if the meeting would still be held on the said date because of the sports retreat holding at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on the same date. The PUNCH could not confirm if a new date had been set or if the meeting would hold later in the day after the retreat.
A total sum of N38m is listed as allegedly missing from the NPL purse by the auditors.
The report submitted by Olaniyi Wale Odunaiya & Co to the executive secretary of the NPL board alleged that a lot of unethical practices were going on with this aspect of sponsorship even while teams cry out for cash on daily basis.
The auditors wrote, “We were able to trace the sum of N115,358,730 (One hundred and fifteen million, three hundred and fifty and fifty eight thousand, seven hundred and thirty naira only) to the bank statement.
“According to the executive secretary the outstanding balance of N38,141,270 (Thirty eight million, one hundred and forty one thousand two hundred and seventy naira only) was paid through physical cash, we were unable to trace this outstanding revenue.”