Ex International Urges EFCC, ICPC to probe NFF over ‘misused’ FIFA grants

Former international, Harrison Jalla has challenged the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to take “immediate” cue from a Congolese court, which recently jailed the President of Congo Football Federation, Jean-Guy Blaise Mayolas, his wife, son and two officials of the federation over money laundering, embezzlement, and forgery.

While the Congolese FA boss, Mayolas, was sentenced to life imprisonment, his wife, son and two federation officials were also convicted in a scandal involving $1.3 million in FIFA development funds.

Jalla, who is the Chairman, Advocacy for Nigeria Football Reform Concepts, said in a message to The Guardian, yesterday, that: “If $1.3 million can send the Congolese president to jail, what about Nigerian Football Federation officials?

“Unfortunately, in Nigeria, our football federation officials seem to be immune to prosecution on corruption allegations,” Jalla said.

“With impunity as the order of the day, it results in the free fall of Nigerian football. This is coupled with the fact that FIFA has abandoned its oversight functions regarding its grants to Nigeria.”

Jalla said that the Nigerian anti-graft agencies, the ICPC and EFCC, must explain to Nigerians why former football federation officials are not in jail despite the “overwhelming evidence” at their disposal.

“There is the $8.4 million 2014 World Cup grant, which was fictitiously retired with a non-existent friendly match against Bolivia and CAF Congress expenses, among others, in a 76-item list. There is also the $10 million 2018 World Cup grant, which disappeared into thin air. As we speak, there is no trace of it, as it was completely diverted from the main domiciliary NFF accounts.

“There is also the $10 million FIFA Forward Fund, released in tranches for Forward 1 and 2. In addition, over $35 million from SuperSport broadcast rights sponsorship within four years was released to the League Management Company (LMC).

“Furthermore, several billions of naira in sponsorship funds have been investigated by the EFCC and confirmed to the late former President Buhari. It is mind-boggling to see those who are supposed to be in jail for corruption in Nigerian football appearing on national television defending corruption. Worse still, they are using the Nigeria Police to go after whistleblowers for alleged cyberbullying and cyberstalking, filing trumped-up charges in courts to silence critics.

“There is a video of the unedited statement of a former Super Eagles captain and Chelsea Football Club legend, who spoke from the inside. In a serious country, this video alone should be sufficient for the relevant anti-graft agencies to take action, especially since the allegation is coming from a former national team captain.

“Where are the oversight functions of the House of Representatives Committee on Sports? Where is the Senate Committee on Sports? These issues cannot be swept under the carpet and will remain at the forefront until total reforms are implemented in Nigerian football and all stolen funds are recovered,” Jalla stated.