Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of the president of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) Amaju Pinnick and four others.
The Judge issued the order of arrest following the refusal of Pinnick and others to appear in court to answer to the charges of misappropriation of funds belonging to NFF.
The NFF president and his co-accused Seyi Akinwunmi (1st Vice President); Shehu Dikko (2nd Vice President); Ahmed Yusuf Fresh (Chairman of Technical and Development Committee) and; Mohammed Sanusi (General Secretary) are facing a 17-count brought against them by the Federal Government.
The case examines a raft of charges, from failure to declare their assets, to the alleged fraud of $8.4 million, paid by the world governing body FIFA to Nigeria for participation in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
The NFF officials are also accused of taking cash through a web of schemes, including payments received for “fake friendlies” as well as unexplained payments to match-agents.
None of the defendants were in court during the hearing, informing the bench warrant by the court.
The NFF president and his co-accused are for arraignment on September 26, 2019. – CHANNELS TV
