AFN Board Members Not Aware Of N250m Owed Okowa By Sports Ministry, Says Gadzama

Some members of the Executive Bard of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, say they are not aware of the N250m reportedly owed Tonobok Okowa by the Federal Ministry of Sports Development.

A national newspaper had quoted an unnamed board member soliciting for the refund of the money Okowa reportedly spent to sponsor Nigerian track and field athletes to continental and international competitions.

Tafida Gadzama, the first Vice President of the federation says the board is not aware of any debts because it was never tabled before it.

‘The board of AFN is not aware of any money owed Okowa by the Sports Ministry because the spendings were never discussed. The President is exercising whatever power he has on behalf of the board which means he must seek the consent of the board before lending it money. This is not a one man business where anything goes.

‘There was never a time a budget was presented for scrutiny and approval by the board for any competition and you cannot approve what you have not seen,’ said Gadzama.

The 2000 Olympics gold medalist says it is the approval from the board Okowa will take to the Sports Ministry before he can be given authority to incur expenditure on behalf of government. The board didn’t give any approval and didn’t see any from the Sports Ministry asking the AFN to incure the expenditure on behalf of government.’

Gadzama has thus called on the Sports Ministry as well as the anti-corruption agencies to probe this reported N250m loan to the AFN.

‘We have been fighting to make sure the AFN is not run at the whim and caprice of Okowa. This is what the audit committee uncovered. Refunds were made from sponsors money without approval for the expenditure, sponsorship money was borrowed without the knowledge and approval of the board.

Sponsorship money was also used for purposes other than what the agreement with the sponsor stipulates.’