Don't ignore corruption charges against LOC, NANF tells EFCC
By Gowon Akpodonor
THE National Association of Nigerian Footballers (NANF) has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to act fast on the corruption charges filed against top officials of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the just concluded Nigeria 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup.
The body warned that any attempt to sweep the matter under the carpet would be resisted by stakeholders in the sports industry. Even before the end of the tourney, in which the Eaglets surrendered their title to Switzerland in the final, there were allegations of high-level embezzlement and sharp practices on the part of the LOC.
This prompted some concerned Nigerians and groups to petition the anti-graft agencies such as the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the EFCC to wade into the matter. Vice President Goodluck Jonathan had stated last week that the federal government would probe the finances of the LOC.
However, in a five-page petition to the EFCC, made available to The Guardian yesterday, NANF President, Harrison Jala, said the anti-graft agency must "act fast this time." Jala told The Guardian the motives behind the petition: "Even before the issue of sharp practices among top officials of the LOC burst open, we had written to the EFCC to investigate them (members). That was when the LOC came up with its bloated budget of N37 billion for the cadet championship, which the federal government rejected.
"Perhaps, if the EFCC had acted on our petition at that time, some of the members would have been in jail even before the commencement of the competition. Now that the federal government has accepted to probe the finances of the LOC, my appeal to the EFCC is to act very fast and get to the root of the matter.
"All those involved in sharp practices during the games must be brought to book. We don't want this matter to be treated with kid glove as we experienced in the past, when the EFCC would say that it could not act because nobody came up with evidence. Now there are overwhelming evidence and I expect it to act fast."
In the recent petition captioned "A Case of Fraud Against the Local Organising Committee of Nigeria 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup," dated November 20 and addressed to the Chairman, EFCC in Lagos, NANF said: "We observed with serious concern that the attempt by the federal government in 2003 to provide standard facilities for Nigeria sportsmen and women by hosting the All Africa Games (COJA 2003) ended also as a monumental fraud.
"NANF implores you to use your good offices to investigate this matter of corruption, which is now endemic in Nigerian sports. The intention of the federal government in accepting to host the FIFA U-17 World Cup is to provide and update facilities to international standard for the present and future generation of Nigerian footballers.
"We therefore implore you (EFCC) to get to the root of this matter by bringing those culpable to book. We wish to reassure you of our readiness to assist you in your investigation in this matter."
Meanwhile, some stakeholders in the sports industry have expressed worries over the inability of the LOC to declare profits weeks after the final of the World Cup. Those who spoke with The Guardian on the issue said it was worrisome that the LOC could not make a public statement on how much the country realised from the hosting of the championship, which cost the federal government over N12.1 billion.
To them, the country should be able to generate huge amount of money through the Marketing Committee, which was said to have received over N78.4 million from the LOC. It will be recalled that the marketing committee had an updated budget of N140 million but got N78.4 million before trouble started between the Sports Minister, Sani Ndanusa, and chairmen of the various committees and sub-seats over retirement of funds.
