AFN Board Members Petition EFFC and ICPC, Ask For Forensic Examination Of Federation’s Audit Committee Report

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC, have been asked to do

a forensic examination of the report of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, Audit Committee which uncovered misappropriation of funds and serial

violations of Nigeria’s Public Sector Financial Regulation Laws.

In a petition addressed to the two anti-corruption agencies, five members of the executive board of the AFN led by its two Vice Presidents, Tafida Gadzama
and

Rosa Collins, the EFCC and the ICPC were alerted to the violation of Section 713 of Nigeria’s Public Sector Financial Regulation Laws which says, ‘any

officer who pays public money into a private bank account is deemed to have done so with fraudulent intentions.’

They were further alerted to the fact that the 70m naira that accrued to the AFN from the 100m naira a year sponsorship agreement with Premium Trust Bank was

not paid into the Special Purpose Account stipulated in the contract.

The members believe the money must have been paid into a private account and want the EFCC and the ICPC to investigate this following the refusal of the AFN

Secretary General, Rita Moshindi to avail the committee of the Federation’s Bank statements as demanded during their investigations.

Consequently, they also want the anti-corruption agencies to demand from the AFN Secretary General who approved the payment of 40m naira to the AFN

President, Tonobok Okowa from the Premium Trust Bank Sponsorship money and whether there was a voucher raised for the payment?.

‘The EFCC and the ICPC should also demand for the approval from the executive board of the AFN authorizing the payment,’ the

petition read.

The AFN Executive Board members further alerted the EFCC and the ICPC to the fact that most of the monies used to executive the four competitions

sponsored by the President of the AFN, Tonobok Okowa were paid into a private account.

‘The committee found out that money for the accommodation of athletes at the Benin, Edo state and Uyo, Akwa Ibom legs of the AFN Golden League competitions

sponsored by the AFN President was paid from a private bank account instead of the AFN bank account,’ the AFN board members wrote in the petition.

The anti-corruption agencies have also been alerted to the proposal sent from the Secretariat of the AFN to Executive Board members seeking approval for the

disbursement of the Premium Trust Bank sponsorship money four days after the federation received payment from the bank.

According to the petition, the EFCC and the ICPC were asked to interrogate among other things the intention behind the proposal when most of the events were

not covered by the terms of the agreement signed between the AFN and Premium Trust Bank.

The Executive Board members say they are disappointed the Federal Ministry of Sports Development has failed to act in an era President Bola Tinubu says there

will be zero tolerance for corrupt and unwholesome practices in the Public sector.

‘We have been compelled to take this matter to the anti-corruption agencies following our supervisory body’s apparent footdragging on the very weighty issues
the report uncovers,’ said Tafida Gadzama, the First Vice President of the AFN.

Gadzama could not explain why the Secretary General of the Federation was not suspended while the Sports Ministry initiates a forensic examination of the

report.

‘We are encouraged by the action of our dear President, Bola Tinubu who has shown he would not condone corruption and corrupt practices by suspending the

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu albeit the matter is still under investigation.

‘This is what the Sports Minister, John Owan Enoh, appointed by President Tinubu should have done,’ explained Gadzama.