Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday issued a bench warrant for the arrest of the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick and four other officials of the football body. The order of arrest was issued following the refusal of Pinnick and others to appear in court to answer to the charges of alleged misappropriation of funds belonging to the NFF. Apart from Pinnick, other defendants whose arrests were ordered by the court include NFF Secretary, Sunusi Mohammed; the 1st Vice-President, Seyi Akinwumi; the 2nd Vice-President, Shehu Dikko and an Executive member, Yusuff Fresh. Recalled that the Federal Government had, through the Special Presidential Investigation Panel on the Recovery of Public Property, filed a 17-count charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/93/2019, before the court, accusing the NFF officials of alleged misappropriation of $8,400,000 belonging to the football body. Pinnick as his co-defendants were also accused of, “moving dishonestly and intentionally the sum of about N4 billion” belonging to the NFF without the consent of the NFF.

Source: Nigerian Tribune July 01, 2019 17:15 UTC