N1.5bn Fraud: EFCC Testifies Against NFF Ex-Officials

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed its proof of evidence against the former president of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Mr Sani Lulu, and others on the N1.5 billion scandal levelled against them, a statement said.

The statement, signed by the Head of Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Babafemi, in Abuja yesterday, said the prosecution counsel, Olasupo Ashaolu, filed the evidence.

It said the confessional statements were obtained from 12 persons, among whom were NFF and EFCC officials.

The EFCC said the NFF officials whose statements formed part of the evidence were Osawaru Oyemidense, the Head of Finance; Adama Idris, Assistant General Secretary, Marketing; Aminu Maigari, a board member of NFF and chairman, Finance Committee and President of the Tenders Board Committee of the NFA.

Others are Chief Patrick Ekeji, Director-General, National Sports Commission (NSC); Musa Amadu, Deputy Secretary-General, {General Services}NFF, and Achor Enebi, a protocol officer with NFF.

Babafemi said the accused were granted bail by the court in the sum of N100 million each with two sureties after spending four days in Kuje prison

He said that the case has now been fixed for Nov. 4 for further hearing.

Others charged with Lulu are Mr Amanze Uchegbulam, first vice-president of NFF, Dr. Bolaji Ojo-Oba, former Secretary of the board and the former head of the technical committee of the federation, Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi.

Lulu, Uchegbulam, Ojo-Oba and Ogunjobi were arrested by EFCC on June 7 but were granted administrative bail and later re-arrested by the commission’s operatives on Monday Sept 6.

The accused persons were later re-arraigned on Sept. 7 before Justice Donatus Okorowa of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on a 10-count charge of felony, abuse of office with intent to gain and misappropriate public funds.