Sports minister approves funds to refund $135,000 missing money to IAAF

Sports minister, Sunday Dare on Wednesday approved the money to refund the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) who wrongly credited the sum of $150,000 instead of $15,000 into the account of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria in 2017.

The Sports Minister who would have been briefed when he assumed office said the money should hit the account of the athletics governing body in a matter of days.

“I have approved the release of funds to refund the IAAF overpayment wrongly credited to the Athletics Federation of Nigeria. In a few days from now, the funds should hit the account of the IAAF baring any interbank delays. With this Nigeria’s reputation is regained,” he made the announcement via his Twitter handle.

Although Dare did not disclose how much the IAAF would be paid, it is believed they should get $135,000 which was what the AFN was expected to transfer back then but failed to, despite the constant reminders from the governing body.

One of such letters the AFN got was in May 2019, with IAAF issuing a deadline of two weeks of which sanctions would follow.

The warning came on the heels of the then minister Solomon Dalung who promised that Nigeria would repay 50 percent of the ‘missing money before leaving office.

Two years ago, the IAAF made an overpayment to the AFN. Instead of the usual grant of $15,000 the world athletics body paid $150,000.

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When the mistake was detected days later, IAAF wrote a letter to AFN to refund the money.