NFF Corruption: FIFA, CAF can’t ban Nigeria–Obla

The Chairman, Presidential Investigative Panel on Recovery of Public Funds, Okoi Obono-Obla has stated that Nigeria will not face any sanction from the Confederation of Africa Football(CAF),  football world governing  body (FIFA) or from the Federal Government in the case of alleged corruption and diversion of funds leveled against top officials of the Nigeria Football Federation.

Obono-Obla, speaking in an interview with Sportinglife.ng, said the issue involved has nothing to do with leadership crisis but alleged corruption of public funds which the 5 officials in question have refused to show up for further investigation which forced the panel to file charges against them and subsequently arraign them at an Abuja Magistrate Court.

“Look the Panel invited the NFF officials to clear their names on the allegations leveled against them and release them on self recognition. But they failed to honour the second date given to them. In our findings , the panel established some facts and filed the charges in court.

“The federal government will not interfere and CAF and FIFA I can assure you will not ban Nigeria because it is a case of alleged corruption and both football governing bodies do not encourage corruption,”  Obono- Obla said.

Read Also: Policemen storm NFF to arrest Pinnick, others

It would be recalled that on Friday  by 11 a.m , four security operatives attached to the panel stormed the glasshouse with a warrant of arrest from the Abuja Magistrate Court to effect the arrest of the alleged officials,  Dr. Sanusi Mohammed (NFF General-Secretary), Shehu  Dikko,   2nd NFF Vice President, Seyi Akinwunmi, 1st  NFF Vice President,  Ahmed Yusuf Fresh (Chairman NFF Technical Committee) and Amaju Melvin Pinnick, NFFPresident.

Meanwhile the officials who were not around when the operatives invaded the glasshouse,  been given till Monday, January 14 to show up or they would be declared wanted.