Alleged $9.5m theft: Pinnick, Sanusi Remain Witnesses - FCT High Court

Alleged $9.5m theft: Pinnick, Sanusi Remain Witnesses - FCT High Court

By Niyi Busari

A Federal High Court in Abuja, on Thursday has ruled that the President, Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick and Secretary General, Muhammed Sanusi remained witnesses on the alleged mismanagement of $9.5m FIFA grants meant for football development.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had prayed before the court, asking it to join President Amaju Pinnick and Secretary General of the Nigeria Football Federation Muhammad Sanusi in the suit regarding alleged theft of over $9.5 million FIFA grants.

Justice Peter Afen, however, failed to grant the anti-graft agency prayer, therefore, Amaju Pinnick and Sanusi Muhammed will appear as witnesses on April 30th when the matter will be open for trial.

The EFCC had arrested and is now prosecuting the NFF director of finance, Christopher Andekin; head of finance and accounts Jafaru Mamza and Rajan Zaka, a cashier for diverting over $9.5 million being grants from FIFA and CAF for the development of football in Nigeria.

The anti-graft agency had listed the NFF chieftains as witnesses in the matter but after a further investigation, the EFCC found them culpable and are now asking the court to grant its prayer to have the chiefs as respondents which was turned down in the FCT High Court Maitama, Abuja.

The moves had been slowed down after the office of the Attorney General said it wanted to harmonise all the cases against the NFF chieftains. But the process received boost after the Ministry of Justice later washed its hands off the case.

The case resumes trial on April 30th, 2020.