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Alleged $8.4m, N4bn Fraud: NFF Officials Shun Court Appearance

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Alleged $8.4m, N4bn Fraud: NFF Officials Shun Court Appearance

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday frowned at the refusal of four officials of the Nigeria Football Federal to appear in court over the $8.4m and N4bn alleged fraud case.

News Agency of Nigeria reports that Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu had, on July 1, issued a warrant of arrest for the four men following their repeated refusal to appear in court to answer to the fraud case preferred against them.

The Federal Government had, through the Special Presidential Investigation Panel on the Recovery of Public Property, charged them over alleged misappropriation of the sums of $8.4m and N4bn belonging to the NFF.

The five officials are NFF President, Amaju Pinnick; NFF Secretary, Sunusi Mohammed; the First Vice-President, Seyi Akinwumi; the Second Vice-President, Shehu Dikko; and an Executive member, Yusuff Fresh, as the first to fifth respondents respectively.

Pinnick was exempted from the ordered arrest due to his official roles as a member of the Confederation of African Football’s organising committee at the African Cup of Nation in Egypt.

Justice Ojukwu said the persons’ duty was to be in court when ordered, as the charges against them before the court had not been cancelled.

She said that when an order was given, it was expected that such order be obeyed; otherwise, matters from such agencies will no longer be entertained in her court.

“Nobody is bigger than the law,” she said.

Counsel to the defendants, Mohammed Katu, said the respondents were absent because the president had instructed that the Attorney General of the Federation take over the case from the office of the Special Presidential Investigation Panel and had ordered all activities to be before the AGF.

He said that the AGF had earlier called the attention of the respondents to his office and in view of the recent development, he believed the AGF will effectively prosecute the matter.

“During dependency of this matter, the same complainants wrote another petition in respect of the same facts against the defendant and on the basis of which they sent to ICPC, EFCC.

“We wrote a letter to the AGF that it would constitute an abuse of processes and the administration of law for same persons as complainants using the same facts in a petition against the defendants in various investigative agencies.

“The AGF deemed it necessary that the matter before the court be brought back to him; the matter before EFCC and ICPC should also be brought back to him so that he will look at them and find out, then consolidate them with the view of giving it one meaning,” Katu said.

Justice Ojukwu said the defendants had no reason to appear before any agency, thereby constituting a parallel hearing in disobedience to the court when the matter was already before a judge.

She said if files had been handed over to the AGF and he wanted to make further investigations, they could appear before him after the matter was no longer in court.

Counsel to AGF, Mr. Abubakar Musa, said the AGF was just coming into the matter today as he was not aware of what the special panel had done.

“But now, according to the instruction of the president, the AGF is taking over the matter and all the files are meant to be in transition because I cannot tell you now if they have deposited the file to the AGF, as he has not told me that.

“I don’t blame the court, the AGF is the chief law officer of the State and he is bound to ensure that the Federal Republic of Nigeria obeys court orders.

“But he is not aware of this order and by so saying we can’t say he is bound now to bring the defendants before the court.

“The files have to be reviewed, if there is sufficient evidence that warrants prosecution,but the decision now is for the AG to take,” he said.

Justice Ojukwu adjourned the matter to October 5 for arraignment and ordered that all affected parties be in court.

(NAN)

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Zidane Will Join Man United, Says Baptista

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Former Brazil international, Julio Baptista has backed former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane to eventually take over at Manchester United.

Man United are currently managed by Erik ten Hag, who is facing an uncertain future after a tough season.

After finishing third last season, winning the Carabao Cup and reaching the FA Cup final, Ten Hag’s side have had 16 defeats across competitions this campaign.


However, Zidane has been touted as one of the options for the Red Devils’ hot seat at Old Trafford.

“Zidane was the best player I have ever played with,” Baptista told Ladbrokes (via Metro).

“Playing with him and sharing a dressing room with him was very special. He is one the best in the world.


“I think he will be a Premier League manager someday. He is an incredible coach, with amazing experience having won the Champions League, so I can see that happening. I can see him going to Manchester United.

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Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich At War Over New Contract

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Nedal Huoseh, agent of the Bayern Munich full-back Alphonso Davies, has lamented the treatment he is currently receiving from the club.

The Canada international is widely regarded as one of the best full-backs in the world, and one of the best North American players of all time.

Huoseh criticised Bayern Munich in comments made to BILD and relayed by football expert Fabrizio Romano.

Davies has a verbal agreement to join Real Madrid either this summer or next according to The Athletic.

In recent weeks, however, the Bavarians have put pressure on Davies’ camp to renew a deal that expires on June 30, 2025.

Over at MARCA, they say that the Bundesliga giants have told Davies to commit his future to them immediately or be sold in the next transfer window.

Davies’ agent Huoseh, told BILD: “It’s unfair to receive an ultimatum from Bayern. We will decide how to proceed at the end of the season when there is more clarity.

“It’s unfair that Alphonso is now being attacked.

“We were close to an agreement a year ago. Then the entire club management was replaced. We didn’t hear anything for seven months. Although, I tried during this time to contact the club myself.


“Now we are being given an ultimatum and are supposed to react within two weeks because the club is under pressure and took a long time to reposition itself in the management. That’s not fair.

“It’s a very important contract in Alphonso’s career and we’re supposed to make the decision without knowing who the coach will be next season or what the team looks like. That’s why we think it’s unfair to react to the ultimatum.”

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Guardiola To Face Arsenal Without Key Players

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Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, could be without seven key players for their clash against Arsenal.

Matheus Nunes, Manuel Akanji, John Stones and Kyle Walker picked up injuries during their time away with their international team.

The trio join Ederson, Kevin de Bruyne and Jack Grealish on the injury list.


Daily Mail reports Walker is a major doubt for the upcoming clash against Arsenal.

Walker will undergo scans alongside Stones.

The club are also monitoring the situations of Ederson, De Bruyne and Grealish and will make a late call for the trio.

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