Members Call On Chairman, Adepoju To Resign
The Organizing and Disciplinary Committee (O&D) of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is enmeshed in bribery allegation.
Chairman of the O&D, Leye Adepoju is alleged to have collected the sum of N1.5 million from the officials of the Shooting Stars FC of Ibadan (3SC), apparently to influence members to rule in favour of the club in its case against the Sunshine FC of Akure.
Unfortunately, the committee ruled against 3SC, awarding three goals, and three points to Sunshine FC. However, bubble burst when an official of 3SC asked a member of the O&D why the decision did not favour his club in spite of the money sent to the committee.
The bewildered committee member was said to have denied receiving any money. At this point, the 3SC official handed over a copy of the voucher signed by the O&D chairman on behalf of the members.
On Thursday, a member of the committee, Iyke Igbokwe blew the whistle when he fielded questions from sports correspondents at the Glass House. He presented a voucher allegedly signed by the chairman of O&D, Mr. Adepoju on behalf of the committee members.
But, Igbokwe denied receiving any money from the chairman to influence decision in favour of any club, calling on Mr. Adepoju to resign so as to pave way for proper investigation.
When contacted by a Radio stationi n Abuja- Nigeria Info, Mr. Adepoju denied collecting any money on behalf of O&D members.
However, he admitted collecting the same amount in question (N1.5m) from 3SC FC but for a different purpose. According to him, the money was for professional services he rendered to the club.
When asked why his signature was on the voucher, he argued that it could have been lifted from any of the documents he had forwarded to the club in the past.
His words, “I never received N1.5 million from 3sc for O&D. I collected N1.5 million in respect of my professional service”, he said.
Meanwhile, sports pundits have called on the NFF President, Aminu Maigari to dissolve the O&D as club owners would no longer have confidence in the committee as it is presently constituted.
They also called on the Sports Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi not to allow the NFF to sweep the matter under the carpet.
