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Tag: Amaju Pinnick

  • FG charges Pinnick with $8,400, N4bn fraud

    The Federal Government has charged the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick and four others with an alleged misappropriation of $8,400 belonging to the football body.

    In a 17-count charge, marked, FHC/ABJ/CR/93/2019, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday, the money was said to have been paid by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) to the NFF as appearance fees in the group stage of the Russia 2018 World Cup.

    Named with Pinnick in the charge are NFF Secretary, Sunusi Mohammed; the 1st Vice-President, Seyi Akinwumi; the 2nd Vice-President, Shehu Dikko, and an Executive member, Yusuff Fresh.

    REad also: Obaseki, Pinnick extol late Esther Rewane’s contribution to societal devt

    The defendants were also accused of “moving dishonestly and intentionally the sum of about N4billion” belonging to the NFF without the consent of the NFF.

    The five are also accused, in the charge filed by the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property (SPIP), led by Okoi Obono-Obla, of failing and neglecting to declare their assets.

     

  • BREAKING: FG charges NFF President Pinnick with $8,400, N4bn fraud

    The Federal Government has charged the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick and four others with alleged misappropriation of $8,400 belonging to the football body.

    In a 17-count charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/93/2019, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, the money was said to have been paid by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) to the NFF as appearance fees in the group state of the Russia 2018 World Cup.

    READ ALSO: Pinnick calls for private ownership of Nigerian football clubs

    Named with Pinnick in the charge, are NFF Secretary, Sunusi Mohammed; the 1st Vice-President, Seyi Akinwumi; the 2nd Vice-President, Shehu Dikko and an Executive member, Yusuff Fresh.

    The defendants were also accused of “moving dishonestly and intentionally the sum of about N4bn” belonging to the NFF without the consent of the NFF.

    The five are also accused, in the charge filed by the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property (SPIP), led by Okoi Obono-Obla, of failing and neglecting to declare their assets.

    Details shortly…

  • Policemen storm NFF to arrest Pinnick, others

    Security personnel attached to the Presidential Investigative Panel on Friday invaded the Nigeria Football Federation to effect the arrest of the NFF President, Amaju Pinnick and four other top officials.

    The Policemen who were armed arrived the NFF glasshouse at about 11am with a warrant of arrest to pick up Amaju, NFF first and second vice presidents, Seyi Akinwunmi, Shehu Dikko, NFF Secretary general, Mohammed Sanusi and NFF technical committee chairman, Ahmed Yusuf Fresh. Unfortunately, none of them were around.

    A source who witnessed the drama informed said the security guards at the federation made an attempt to challenge the policemen, but had to withdraw after they shown the warrant of arrest.

    Read also: We are accountable to people — NFF

    “They searched the offices and did not find anything or the people they were looking for, after the security guards allowed them access.

    “I just wondered what would have happened if they were around,” our source said.

    Recalled Chairman of the panel, Okoi Obono-Obla had on Wednesday said the five officials must clear their names following alleged fraud, mismanagement and misapplication of funds leveled against them.

    But they failed to show up thus leading to the panel applying the use of force.

  • Buhari never ordered arrest of Pinnick – Presidency

    The Presidency has described as `fake news’ a press release in circulation, to the effect that President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered the arrest and prosecution of Amaju Pinnick, the President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

    A report went viral in social media in the last 24 hours indicating that there were palpable fears in the country’s football family following alleged President Buhari’s directive for the prosecution of Amaju Pinnick, over a litany of corruption allegations levelled against him.

    “The allegations which also involved funds embezzlement are in billions of naira,’’ the report quoted.

    But, a presidential spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, in a statement in Abuja on Sunday, dismissed the report as untrue and false.

    He said: “This is fake news because anyone familiar with the President’s unmitigated and unshakable commitment to the due processes of the law will not make such assumptions of the President.

    “The position of the President that allegations of criminal nature should be addressed only by investigation and law enforcement agencies, within the framework of the law has not changed.

    “It is not in the nature of President Buhari to say go and arrest that man or woman as formed the practice in the past.

    “Rather, he allows all allegations of this nature to be addressed using the mechanism of the rule of law even as law enforcement and investigation agencies should not in any way be hampered in performing their duties.

    “At the same time, nobody should drop names to seek to influence the course of those investigations.’’ (NAN)

  • We are accountable to people — NFF

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has reiterated its commitment to building a transparent federation which is interactive with people and open to constructive criticisms.

    Speaking in Lagos on Wednesday, the President of the body, Amaju Pinnick stated that the transparency of the Glasshouse is what is attracting sponsors to them continually, as they aim to take football sponsorship from the government, but there is need to consolidate the relationship between the NFF and sponsors the more.

    According to Pinnick, “We are accountable to the people. We want to build a very robust football federation that is quite interactive, where people can even criticize us constructively and advise us on steps to take, to be much more successful.

    Explaining the transparency of the football house, Pinnick, who doubles as the first Vice-President of CAF said “Sponsors do not have anything to lose if they leave us alone. So we need to convince them and tell them why they should put money into football.

    “They were very happy seeing our financial details of the year published in various newspapers. What more proof do you need to show that you are working with people with credibility?”

    Pinnick further refuted claims that the Super Falcons were being neglected, while more attention is given to the Super Eagles.  He accepted that the body truly did not start well with the female team, but believes that everyone is now happy.

    “I only make people understand that there are some points (like the 208 World Cup) where we need to focus on our main brand, the Super Eagles. The Super Falcons are the most successful female football team in World Football, not just in Africa. They have nine African titles, Germany has eight in Europe and the United States has eight in CONCACAF.

    “I take responsibility that we did not star well with the Super Falcons, but so far, we have made them happy and every promise we have made to them has been fulfilled,” he said.

  • We are accountable to people – NFF

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has reiterated its commitment to building a transparent federation that is interactive with people and open to constructive criticism.

    Speaking in Lagos on Wednesday, the President of the body, Amaju Pinnick affirmed that the transparency of the glasshouse is what is attracting sponsors to them continually, as they aim to take football sponsorship from the government, but there is need to consolidate the relationship between the NFF and sponsors the more.

    According to Pinnick, “We are accountable to people. We want to build a very robust football federation that is quite interactive, where people can even criticize us constructively and advise us on steps to take, to be much more successful.

    Explaining the transparency of the football house, Pinnick, who doubles as the first Vice President of CAF said “Sponsors do not have anything to lose, if they leave us alone. So we need to convince them, and tell them why they should put money into football.

    Read Also: No cabal in NFF, Pinnick declares

    “They were very happy seeing our financial details of the year published in various newspapers. What more proof do you need to show that you are working with people with credibility?”

    Pinnick further refuted claims that the Super Falcons are neglected, and more attention is given to the Super Eagles.  He accepted that the body truly did not start well with the female team, but believes that everyone is now happy.

    “I only make people understand that there are some points (like the 208 World Cup) where we need to focus on our main brand, the Super Eagles. The Super Falcons are the most successful female football team in World Football, not just in Africa. They have nine African titles, Germany has eight in Europe and the United States has eight in CONCACAF.

    “I take responsibility that we did not star well with the Super Falcons, but so far, we have made them happy and every promise we have made to them has been fulfilled” he said.

     

  • Pinnick calls for private ownership of Nigerian football clubs

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

    Private ownership of football clubs has been suggested to be one of the ways to promote the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL), and make it as lucrative as it used to be in the past.

    This was the submission of the President of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick in Lagos.

    Speaking in Lagos, Pinnick noted that Nigeria needs football clubs that will have history, as this is when they would feature in big matches like the CAF Champions League final.

    In his words “We don’t just want to play football for the social reason of uniting Nigeria, but we are coming out with a policy very soon, which I will submit to the reforms committee, where all clubs must have a certain percentage of private ownership. Twenty percent can go to the government because of the stadia that they own, which can be converted as equity. We need clubs that will have history. That is the only time that you will see Nigerian clubs playing in the final of the CAF Champions League.

    Read Also: Doctrine of necessity for Nigerian Football

    “We want the football clubs to be owned privately Let them bring their friends and companies to manage and run this club as a proper business. How much does it cost to run a club in Nigeria? It is about developing strategies of how to raise funds to themselves.”

    Pinnick further revealed that one of the major projects of the NFF is to make football play a big part in the Nigerian economy.

    “Part of what we are coming to do in our second tenure is to build a football economy. Look at the sports eco-system of Nigeria; it’s quite ambitious, making football an integral part of the Nigerian economy. We need to do that, because football is not just about the social factor, it is a massive business. It gives the UK government 3.3 billion pounds, every year.”

  • No cabal in NFF, Pinnick declares

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

    President of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick has debunked claims that the football glasshouse was being run by a ‘cabal’. According to him, no such thing exists.

    He said this in a monitored interview on television in Lagos last weekend. Pinnick noted that he always put Nigeria first in all he and everyone under his leadership does before any personal interest.

    In his words “I laugh a lot because Nigerians believe that everything is controlled by a cabal. If you look at my language, I use, “we”, not I and that we includes myself, Seyi Akinwumi, Shehu Dikko, Dr. Sanusi Mohammed, the General Secretary, members of the executive committee.

    If you want to carry people along, they say it is a cabal. If you want to do it alone, they say you don’t carry people along, but the word “cabal” does not exist in Nigerian football under my leadership. I always tell, not just the players, but the administrators, that we must always think of Nigeria first in anything we are doing. It is very key to whatever we want to achieve. You must have that in-built in you. That is what I say to all of them.”

    Read Also: Rewards coming, Pinnick hints Falcons

    Pinnick, who also doubles as the first Vice President of the Confederations of African Football (CAF), also said that it is important for football leaders to have a cordial relationship with his players, to get the best of them.

    It is important to have a build a very strong relationship with not just the players, but their family. I can tell you clearly that I have been touched with Victor Moses, because I have a very smooth relationship with him. We talk regularly.

    “When I travel to London, I can call Alex Iwobi and we hang out. It is a psychological thing. Don’t let them have the feeling of seeing you as a high and old President; make them feel you and you will get their best” he said.

     

     

  • Make NFF a modern football organisation-Balogun

    A sports Analyst, Tayo Balogun, has advised Amaju Pinnick,  President of the  Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to run the outfit as a modern day football organisation.

    This is with a view to further develop the sport in the country.

    Balogun gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Ibadan on Tuesday.

    He also told Pinnick, who was re-elected president of the Federation on Thursday to make due process the order of the day.

    “This is his second term in office; the period should be used effectively. He should correct many wrongs going on in the running of the NFF.

    Read Also: Balogun advises Eaglets to be cautious against Niger

    “Pinnick should ensure that the Federation is independent of government in terms of funding.”

    The sports enthusiast also urged the NFF chief to encourage more sponsorship of the sport, thus creating more national competitions.

    Balogun, advised Pinnick to work toward qualifying Nigeria for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and ensure that the Super Eagles make appreciable impact in the global football fiesta.

    He also called on the NFF to make the country’s age group teams the best in Africa and the world.

    “Pinnick should take steps to make our age-group teams the best, not only in Africa but also in the world.

    “It is also very important that Pinnick leads a transparent administration that seeks to carry every stakeholder along. “

    Balogun also called on Pinnick-led administration to do all that could be done to get the National Assembly to pass the NFF Act.

  • Pinnick re-elected as NFF President

    Incumbent President of the Nigerian football Federation, NFF, Mr Amaju Pinnick, was on Thursday re-elected for a second term in office to superintend the Football Federation.

    The election which was held at the premises of Katsina State local Government Service Commission in Katsina saw Pinnick polling 34 votes to beat other three contestants to retain his seat.

    His closest rival and former NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Magari polled 8 votes, while the former Secretary of the NFF, Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi who also contested for the seat, polled 2 votes. Honorable Chinedu Okoye, a new entrant in the contest, did not gather any vote at the election

    Read Also: Pinnick battles others for top job

    In all, 44 delegates from states’ football federation and other bodies including coaches, referees associations and players’ unions ,participated in the election, which was largely adjudged transparent and peaceful

    The chairman of the Electoral Committee for the election, Muhammed Katu announced the results.

    FIFA representatives, Luca Piazza and Solomon Mudege were among football chiefs who witnessed the election.

    Elections into the other offices such as first Vice President, Chairman of Chairmen and other members of the NFF board were still in progress as at time of filing this report.