By Paul Lucky Okoku Dear ๐๐ซ. ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ค๐จ๐ฒ๐๐๐, ๐๐ฑ๐๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ข๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ง, ๐๐๐จ๐ง๐จ๐ฆ๐ข๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ ๐ข๐ง๐๐ง๐๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง, I write respectfully as a Nigerian, former worldwide footballer, soccer historian and investigative soccer author who needs one factor above every thing else: ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐. This isn’t a letter written to accuseโฆ…
By Paul Lucky Okoku
Dear ๐๐ซ. ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ค๐จ๐ฒ๐๐๐, ๐๐ฑ๐๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ข๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ง, ๐๐๐จ๐ง๐จ๐ฆ๐ข๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ ๐ข๐ง๐๐ง๐๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง,
I write respectfully as a Nigerian, former worldwide footballer, soccer historian and investigative soccer author who needs one factor above every thing else:
๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐.
This isn’t a letter written to accuse anybody.
It isn’t an try to intrude with an investigation.
It isn’t an try to pronounce anybody responsible earlier than a reliable court docket.
It is a request for ๐๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ, ๐๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ๐๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ซ๐.
First, I would like to acknowledge the inner accountability measures you might have publicly described on the EFCC.
You just lately acknowledged that greater than 40 EFCC personnel had been dismissed for corruption and monetary malpractice throughout your tenure, with greater than 5 already going through prosecution and extra case recordsdata being ready. You additionally spoke publicly about issues involving workers whose seen life and belongings appeared tough to reconcile with professional earnings.
That assertion deserves consideration.
An anti-corruption establishment can not credibly demand accountability from the remaining of the nation if it refuses to look at itself.
You have additionally made clear that dismissal shouldn’t essentially be the top when proof justifies prosecution.
That precept is one cause I’m writing to you.
I additionally acknowledge that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed you EFCC Executive Chairman on October 12, 2023, following your earlier service as Chief of Staff to the EFCC Chairman and Secretary to the Commission.
The significance of your current internal-cleanup message is due to this fact simple:
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.
In each credible establishment, it begins at residence.
And when it begins, it shouldn’t cease midway.
๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
For years โ and in some situations throughout practically three many years of Nigerian football-finance controversies โ the identical sample has appeared repeatedly.
A monetary query emerges.
An allegation is reported.
An investigation begins.
A court docket date is introduced.
A committee is fashioned.
A grant is questioned.
A prosecution begins.
Then the general public path turns into tough to observe.
Months turn out to be years.
Administrations change.
Officials transfer on.
Another monetary controversy seems.
And Nigerians are left asking:
What occurred to the earlier one?
That absence of finality is harmful.
Not as a result of everybody investigated is responsible.
They usually are not.
Not as a result of each audit question proves theft.
It doesn’t.
Not as a result of each allegation deserves prosecution.
It doesn’t.
But as a result of unresolved investigations, unresolved prosecutions and unresolved audit questions weaken deterrence.
When folks consider that main monetary circumstances can start loudly and finish quietly, the system turns into weak to repetition.
๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
It is about finishing processes.
Investigation.
Evidence.
Decision.
Prosecution the place warranted.
Clearance the place warranted.
Recovery the place lawful.
And a public ending.
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
One matter significantly illustrates the issue.
On ๐๐๐ญ๐จ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐, the EFCC arraigned three Nigeria Football Federation finance officers earlier than the FCT High Court, Maitama, Abuja.
They have been:
๐๐ก๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ฉ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐๐ง๐๐๐ค๐ข๐ง โ Director of Administration and Finance
๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ง ๐๐๐ค๐ โ Cashier
๐ ๐๐๐๐ง๐๐ซ๐ข ๐๐๐ฆ๐ณ๐ โ Head of Finance and Accounts
The case was:
๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐ ๐๐จ. ๐ ๐๐/๐๐/๐๐/๐๐๐/๐๐๐๐
The EFCC prosecution was publicly reported as involving alleged prison conspiracy, breach of belief and misappropriation of FIFA improvement funds.
The defendants pleaded not responsible.
The prosecutor was ๐๐ญ๐๐ฏ๐ ๐๐๐ข๐๐ฌ๐.
The matter was earlier than ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐. ๐๐๐๐๐ง.
The publicly reported quantity was roughly:
๐๐$๐,๐๐๐,๐๐๐.๐๐
in FIFA improvement funds.
Published stories additionally individually cited alleged quantities of roughly:
๐๐ก๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ฉ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐๐ง๐๐๐ค๐ข๐ง โ ๐๐$๐.๐ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐จ๐ง
๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ง ๐๐๐ค๐ โ ๐๐$๐.๐ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐จ๐ง
๐ ๐๐๐๐ง๐๐ซ๐ข ๐๐๐ฆ๐ณ๐ โ ๐๐$๐.๐ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐จ๐ง
Those element figures whole ๐๐$๐๐.๐ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐จ๐ง, which doesn’t correspond mathematically with the individually reported US$9.535 million general determine.
That numerical inconsistency is another excuse the unique cost, proof and full court docket document matter.
The printed cost particulars additionally recognized the related NFF domiciliary account as:
๐๐๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐๐๐ง๐ค โ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ ๐๐จ. ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
The unique financial institution mandate figuring out the authorised signatories on the related time has not been positioned in the general public materials we’ve reviewed.
We won’t guess who signed.
We need the document.
๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐
The proceedings continued.
The EFCC sought to add then-NFF President ๐๐ฆ๐๐ฃ๐ฎ ๐๐ข๐ง๐ง๐ข๐๐ค and NFF General Secretary ๐๐จ๐ก๐๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ข to the proceedings.
The court docket declined that utility.
The unique prosecution remained.
The court docket mounted ๐๐ฉ๐ซ๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐ for additional trial proceedings.
Then the publicly accessible path turned more and more tough to observe.
Justice Affen was subsequently elevated to the Court of Appeal in June 2021.
We have now written immediately to the FCT High Court Registry requesting the official procedural standing of the case.
Our request asks whether or not:
the case stays pending;
it was reassigned;
a brand new choose inherited it;
further witnesses testified;
further displays have been tendered;
the prosecution formally closed;
the matter was stayed;
withdrawn;
struck out;
dismissed;
transferred;
or in any other case concluded.
We have tried to observe the court docket document.
We reached some extent the place the publicly accessible path turned unclear.
So we went immediately to the court docket.
And now, respectfully, we’re additionally coming to the establishment that prosecuted the case.
๐๐. ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐. ๐ ๐๐/๐๐/๐๐/๐๐๐/๐๐๐๐?
If it’s lively, Nigerians ought to know.
If it was concluded, Nigerians ought to know.
If it was discontinued, Nigerians ought to know.
If a court docket dominated, the ruling ought to converse for itself.
If the defendants have been cleared, they deserve that readability too.
๐๐๐ โฆ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
There can also be the way more current matter involving a reported:
โฆ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
Federal Government intervention related with national-team monetary obligations.
The public document signifies that the cash was related to excellent coachesโ salaries, gamersโ allowances, bonuses and different national-team commitments.
A Freedom of Information request dated ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐, ๐๐๐๐ sought NFF monetary data and utilisation logs relating to the intervention.
The NFF reportedly obtained the request on ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐.
On ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐, the NFF responded by means of correspondence referenced:
๐๐ ๐ /๐๐๐/๐๐/๐/๐๐๐
The letter was reportedly signed by ๐๐ง๐จ๐ฃ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฌ๐ก๐ฎ๐, ๐๐ฌ๐ช., on behalf of General Secretary ๐๐ซ. ๐๐จ๐ก๐๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ข.
The NFFโs place was that related data have been already with the EFCC and ICPC as a result of the matter was underneath investigation.
Subsequent reporting mentioned some NFF officers had been invited, had given statements and have been on administrative bail.
Then, on ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐, EFCC spokesman ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฐ๐๐ฅ๐ publicly acknowledged that the investigation was ongoing.
That offers Nigerians an necessary truth:
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
What Nigerians don’t but have is the ending.
How a lot really reached the NFF?
When was it transferred?
Into which account?
What was the permitted expenditure schedule?
Who obtained funds?
Which gamers?
Which coaches?
Which previous obligations?
Which distributors?
Which third events?
Who authorised every transaction?
Were all advances retired?
Were all funds supported by vouchers and receipts?
Did the EFCC hint any cash to non-public accounts?
Was any cash recovered?
Was any asset frozen?
Was any cost ready?
Was any particular person cleared?
Was anybody really helpful for prosecution?
What stays excellent?
Those usually are not accusations.
They are the questions an unfinished investigation naturally creates.
๐๐๐ โฆ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
There is one other main determine in the general public document:
โฆ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.
National Sports Commission Chairman ๐๐ก๐๐ก๐ฎ ๐๐ข๐ค๐ค๐จ publicly mentioned an roughly โฆ17 billion one-time Federal Government intervention obtained by the NFF round December 2023 to January 2024.
His public clarification was that the cash entered the NFFโs CBN account and had already been spent by the point the National Sports Commission assumed accountability.
That doesn’t show prison wrongdoing.
It creates an accounting query.
What was requested?
What was permitted?
What quantity was launched?
What quantity entered the NFF account?
Who authorised expenditure?
Who obtained funds?
What liabilities have been inherited?
Which liabilities have been cleared?
What remained unpaid?
What did the audited accounts present?
What did the administration letters present?
Were any transactions queried?
And one query now turns into particularly necessary:
๐๐ ๐๐๐ โฆ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐/๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ โฆ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ โ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐?
We are not looking for to add figures collectively with out documentary proof.
We need the data to set up the connection.
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐$๐๐๐,๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐
Another unresolved historic monetary matter issues roughly:
๐๐$๐๐๐,๐๐๐
reported stolen from the NFF secretariat in March 2009.
Police investigation and prosecution adopted.
Years later, the general public ought to find a way to reply two primary questions:
What was the ultimate judicial final result?
Was the cash recovered?
If there was a conviction, the place is the ultimate document?
If the defendants have been acquitted, the place is the ultimate document?
If cash was recovered, how a lot?
If it was not recovered, what turned of the restoration effort?
That isn’t about reopening previous accusations.
It is about closing previous recordsdata.
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
In ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐๐๐, one other main monetary controversy entered the general public document.
At the time, the Nigeria Football Federation was led by ๐๐ฆ๐๐ฃ๐ฎ ๐๐ข๐ง๐ง๐ข๐๐ค as President, with ๐๐ซ. ๐๐จ๐ก๐๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ข serving as General Secretary.
A FIFA-related audit evaluate raised questions regarding:
๐๐$๐.๐ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ญ
and reported insufficient supporting documentation for about:
๐๐$๐๐๐,๐๐๐.
Then-Sports Minister ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฆ๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ง๐ publicly demanded an in depth accounting of the receipt, disbursement and utility of the FIFA improvement grant and known as for an unbiased audit. He mentioned FIFA had withheld additional improvement funding as a result of satisfactory documentation had not been offered for about US$802,000 of the grant.
But the NFF disputed the suggestion that the problem amounted mechanically to theft or diversion.
The federation mentioned its accounts had already been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers, maintained that there have been no discrepancies in its audited accounts, and argued that the Sports Minister had been misinformed in regards to the actions of the NFF board.
Then-NFF President ๐๐ฆ๐๐ฃ๐ฎ ๐๐ข๐ง๐ง๐ข๐๐ค subsequently offered a public clarification of how the questioned roughly ๐๐$๐๐๐,๐๐๐ had been spent and mentioned the federation was not opposed to an extra audit. He additionally pointed to the NFFโs engagement of PricewaterhouseCoopers as exterior auditors and Financial Derivatives as monetary consultants.
That competing account should stay in the document.
An audit question isn’t a conviction.
Missing or insufficient supporting documentation doesn’t, by itself, show prison misappropriation.
But neither does a denial or inner clarification shut an audit query.
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
What occurred after the audit question?
What supporting documentation was ultimately offered?
What expenditures did FIFA in the end settle for?
What expenditures, if any, remained unsupported?
Was any cash refunded?
Did FIFA formally shut the matter?
When have been improvement funds restored?
Did the Sports Ministryโs requested unbiased audit happen?
What did that audit conclude?
Was any facet referred to the ๐๐ ๐๐ or ๐๐๐๐?
Were ๐๐ฆ๐๐ฃ๐ฎ ๐๐ข๐ง๐ง๐ข๐๐ค, ๐๐จ๐ก๐๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ข, or another NFF official subsequently questioned particularly in relation to this grant?
Was anyone cleared?
Was anyone sanctioned?
And the place is the general public closing doc that tells Nigerians how the ๐๐$๐๐๐,๐๐๐ challenge lastly ended?
Those are the questions that matter now.
Not one other accusation.
Not one other headline.
๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
Because if the NFFโs clarification was in the end accepted, the general public ought to know that.
If cash was refunded, the general public ought to know that.
If documentation was corrected and FIFA closed the matter, the general public ought to know that.
And if the matter led to additional investigation, sanction or restoration, the general public ought to know that too.
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐.
๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
๐๐๐ ๐๐$๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
On ๐๐๐ญ๐จ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐, the House of Representatives resolved to examine allegations regarding greater than:
๐๐$๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐จ๐ง
in FIFA and CAF improvement grants reportedly obtained by the NFF between 2015 and 2025.
The NFF disputed allegations of misuse and argued that FIFA and CAF funds have been purpose-specific, topic to auditing and, in some circumstances, paid immediately to permitted contractors or consultants.
Again:
A parliamentary movement isn’t a conviction.
An allegation isn’t a discovering.
A denial isn’t an unbiased audit.
The correct reply is the finished parliamentary document.
Yet by January 15, 2026, reporting mentioned the House committee had nonetheless not submitted its findings greater than two months after the probe was ordered.
That leaves one other unfinished query:
Where is the ultimate committee report?
What proof was obtained?
What tasks have been examined?
What findings have been made?
What suggestions adopted?
Was something referred to the EFCC?
Was something referred to the ICPC?
Was something despatched to the Auditor-General?
Was anyone cleared?
Was anyone sanctioned?
The Nigerian public deserves the ultimate web page, not solely the opening headline.
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ โ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐
The particular person circumstances are completely different.
Different administrations.
Different funding sources.
Different allegations.
Different companies.
Different authorized circumstances.
They ought to by no means be collapsed into one accusation.
But considered throughout roughly three many years of Nigerian football-finance controversies, one institutional concern retains returning:
Where is the ending?
What occurred?
Who was cleared?
Who was prosecuted?
Who was convicted?
What was recovered?
What was reconciled?
What remained lacking?
Which mission was accomplished?
Which debt was settled?
Which audit question was closed?
Which case died?
And why?
๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
Football is one of the few establishments succesful of bringing thousands and thousands of Nigerians collectively on the identical second.
When Nigeria scores, individuals who might disagree about nearly every thing else have fun the identical purpose.
That offers soccer extraordinary nationwide significance.
And that’s exactly why cash supposed for Nigerian soccer deserves extraordinary care.
These assets are supposed to produce:
pitches;
coaching centres;
academies;
grassroots competitions;
youth improvement;
ladiesโs soccer;
coach schooling;
referee improvement;
medical help;
participant welfare;
national-team preparation;
and infrastructure.
When improvement cash produces improvement, everybody can see it.
A pitch exists.
A coaching centre opens.
A youth competitors runs.
A coach is paid.
A participant receives his allowance.
A mission is accomplished.
An academy produces gamers.
The accounting ends in one thing actual.
But when the general public repeatedly hears about thousands and thousands of {dollars} and billions of naira whereas improvement stays insufficient, the questions turn out to be unavoidable.
What occurred to the cash?
Where is the ability?
Where is the programme?
Where is the audit?
Where is the investigation?
Where is the judgment?
Where is the restoration?
Where is the accountability?
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
Another concern is institutional continuity.
The identical comparatively small circle of directors and football-government actors has appeared repeatedly throughout completely different administrations, committees and eras.
That truth alone proves nothing improper.
Experience could be priceless.
Continuity can protect institutional reminiscence.
But longevity additionally will increase the significance of documentary accountability.
A senior administrator who has served by means of a number of administrations might possess monumental institutional data.
That doesn’t imply he personally authorised each transaction.
It doesn’t show wrongdoing.
But the establishment ought to all the time find a way to present:
who initiated a fee;
who verified it;
who permitted it;
who signed;
who obtained it;
who reconciled it;
who audited it;
and who answered when one thing went mistaken.
A title isn’t proof of guilt.
A place isn’t proof of prison accountability.
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐.
That is what we’re asking for.
๐๐. ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
We respectfully ask the EFCC to assist convey documentary closure to Nigerian football-finance issues inside its jurisdiction.
Not by means of headlines.
Not by means of hypothesis.
Not by means of trial by social media.
Through the document.
For each related matter, Nigerians ought to in the end find a way to see:
๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐ ๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐, ๐๐ ๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
That would shield everybody.
It would shield harmless folks from everlasting suspicion.
It would shield investigators from accusations that circumstances merely disappear.
It would shield public cash.
It would shield the credibility of the EFCC.
And it will shield Nigerian soccer from a tradition in which allegations are remembered, however outcomes are forgotten.
๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐.
But the place admissible proof proves prison wrongdoing and the regulation helps prosecution, accountability shouldn’t disappear as a result of the particular person concerned is influential, acquainted or related to soccer.
Equally, the place an investigation establishes no prison wrongdoing, that particular person deserves a transparent ending too.
Either final result serves the general public curiosity.
Because:
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.
๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.
Investigation.
Evidence.
Decision.
Prosecution the place warranted.
Clearance the place warranted.
Recovery the place legally justified.
Judgment the place a case reaches court docket.
And a ultimate public document.
๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐.
Mr Chairman, your personal current public statements make this request particularly well timed.
You have mentioned that the EFCC obtained 49,673 petitions between October 2023 and July 2026, investigated 39,615 circumstances, filed 14,476 circumstances in court docket, and secured 10,872 convictions. You have additionally mentioned the Commission recovered greater than โฆ1.23 trillion and roughly US$684.47 million throughout the identical broad interval.
You have mentioned that greater than 40 EFCC staff have been dismissed for corruption and monetary malpractice, and that some have been being prosecuted.
You have additionally mentioned that the Commission receives tens of 1000’s of public-corruption petitions and that some case recordsdata are deeply troubling.
Those are robust requirements.
We are respectfully asking that the unresolved Nigerian soccer recordsdata be measured in opposition to the identical normal.
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐.
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐.
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐.
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.
That is all we’re asking.
Football has carried too many unfinished monetary questions for too lengthy.
We have adopted the general public document.
We have written to the court docket.
Where the path turns into unclear, we’ll proceed asking.
Not as a result of this provides us pleasure.
It doesn’t.
But as a result of younger Nigerians deserve pitches as an alternative of unfinished tasks.
Players deserve fee as an alternative of guarantees.
Coaches deserve contracts which might be honoured.
Communities deserve amenities.
Supporters deserve transparency.
And Nigerian soccer deserves an accounting system in which each naira and each greenback could be adopted from the supply to approval to fee to recipient to mission to audit and to the result.
Mr Chairman, you might have spoken about cleansing your personal establishment.
That precept deserves to be utilized wherever public assets are concerned.
So we respectfully ask:
๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.
Not as a result of we’ve already determined who’s responsible.
We haven’t.
But as a result of an unresolved case leaves suspicion hanging over everybody.
A accomplished case offers everybody a solution.
And after practically three many years of recurring questions round Nigerian soccer cash, Nigerians deserve greater than one other starting.
๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
Respectfully,
Paul Lucky Okoku, FIFA Legend, Former Nigeria Flying Eagles Vice-Captain, Former Super Eagles International, AFCON Silver Medalist, Football Historian, Football Analyst, Investigative Football Writer and Founder & CEO, GTCF, writes from Atlanta, USA
ย
๐๐๐๐๐๐โ๐ ๐๐๐๐: This open letter types half of The Gladiators Beyond the Arena, an ongoing documentary examination of Nigerian soccer governance, monetary accountability and institutional accountability. Its objective is to establish unresolved public-record questions and search documentary closure. It doesn’t search to decide prison legal responsibility outdoors the lawful investigative and judicial course of.
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐: This letter attracts on publicly reported court docket proceedings, EFCC statements and prosecutions, authorities data, NFF responses, FIFA-related audit reporting, parliamentary proceedings, publicly reported investigations and different verifiable documentary sources. Where reported figures battle โ together with the figures related to Charge No. FCT/HC/CR/324/2018 โ that battle is disclosed fairly than resolved by assumption. Where the ultimate standing of an investigation, prosecution, audit or parliamentary inquiry couldn’t be established from the general public materials reviewed, it’s described as unresolved.
๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐:
๐๐๐ญ๐จ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐ โ State House announcement appointing Ola Olukoyede EFCC Executive Chairman.
๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐ โ Public reporting of Olukoyedeโs disclosure that greater than 40 EFCC workers had been dismissed for corruption and monetary malpractice, with some being prosecuted.
๐๐๐ฉ๐ญ๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ซ ๐, ๐๐๐๐ โ EFCC efficiency figures masking petitions, investigations, filings, convictions and recoveries underneath Olukoyede.
๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐ โ reporting on the FIFA audit question in regards to the US$1.1 million grant and roughly US$802,000 in questioned documentation.
๐๐๐ญ๐จ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐ โ House of Representatives decision to examine alleged misuse of greater than US$25 million in FIFA/CAF grants.
๐๐๐ง๐ฎ๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐ โ reporting that the House committee had not but submitted its findings on that inquiry.
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐: Nothing in this letter must be learn as declaring Ola Olukoyede, Ibrahim Musa Gusau, Mohammed Sanusi, Amaju Pinnick, Christopher Andekin, Reagan Zaka, Fadanari Mamza, or another particular person responsible of fraud, corruption, embezzlement, misappropriation or another offence except such guilt has been established by a reliable court docket.
Allegations stay allegations.
Investigations stay investigations.
Audit queries stay audit queries.
Parliamentary inquiries stay inquiries.
Defendants who pleaded not responsible stay entitled to the presumption of innocence except and till a reliable court docket determines in any other case.
Where competing accounts exist, they need to be examined in opposition to underlying paperwork.
Any correction, official response, cost sheet, EFCC or ICPC assertion, court docket ruling, judgment, audit report, financial institution document, authorities launch schedule, parliamentary report or different verifiable documentary proof that clarifies these issues is welcome and will likely be included into the persevering with public document.
