House of Reps launches probe into NFF over $25m FIFA, CAF grants
The House of Representatives has waded into the growing storm over Nigeria’s football finances, resolving on Tuesday to summon officials of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) over the handling of $25 million in grants from FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The House also moved to set up a Special Investigative Committee to scrutinize how the funds were spent, following a motion of urgent national importance jointly sponsored by Hon. Adedayo Adesola (Lagos) and Hon. Felix Nwaeke (Rivers).
The motion, titled “To Stop Further Misuse of FIFA and CAF Grants by the NFF,” received unanimous support during plenary presided over by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, reflecting growing frustration over the NFF’s handling of football funds amid Nigeria’s declining performance on the international stage.
Adesola, while moving the motion, accused the NFF of a pattern of financial recklessness that has “crippled the development of Nigerian football.”
He cited past audit queries from FIFA — including a 2016 case involving $802,000 in undocumented expenses — and ongoing controversies surrounding a $1.2 million grant allegedly spent on the substandard Birnin Kebbi Stadium project.
“The Kenyan Football Federation used a similar amount to build a standard, fully equipped facility. What we have in Birnin Kebbi raises more questions than answers,” Adesola said.
Lawmakers recalled that several NFF officials, including former president Amaju Pinnick, had previously faced EFCC and ICPC investigations over alleged financial mismanagement between 2018 and 2019.
The House’s new probe will cover NFF’s financial records from 2015 to date, with officials expected to appear before the investigative committee to produce all relevant documents detailing how FIFA and CAF funds were received and disbursed.
