Petitioners Ask Court To Compel EFCC To Probe AFN Officials Over Fraud Allegations

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been summoned to the Federal High Court in Abuja following allegations of misappropriation and corruption within the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN).

The Incorporated Trustees of Athletics and Other Sports Development Initiative has submitted a petition calling for an investigation of the president of the AFN, Tonobok Okowa; former secretary general, Rita Mosindi, and the former managing director of Nilayo Sports Management Limited, who is now the director general of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade.

According to the writ of summons reviewed by our correspondent, the plaintiffs argued that, under sections 6 (b) and (h) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004, the EFCC is obliged to investigate any reported instances of financial and economic crimes. They contended that the EFCC’s failure to investigate their petition, submitted on April 15, 2024, constituted a neglect of its statutory responsibilities.

The plaintiffs were seeking a court order to compel the EFCC to initiate and conclude the investigation related to their allegations against the AFN officials. They were also requesting that the court suspend Okowa from his roles as president of AFN during the investigation, as well as requiring Olopade to temporarily step down as NSC Director General until the EFCC’s inquiries were completed.

The Incorporated Trustees wanted the EFCC to scrutinise a payment of ₦70 million made to the AFN, despite an existing contractual agreement with Premium Trust Bank for ₦100 million per year. They asserted that the transaction violated the terms of the agreement, which states sponsorship funds should be deposited into a designated special account. Additionally, the plaintiffs alleged that Olopade received a yearly commission from this amount, yet there were discrepancies surrounding the management of the funds.

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Further accusations included claims that Okowa paid himself ₦40 million as a purported loan to the Federation without any formal agreement in place, a matter highlighted in the AFN’s Audit Report, where former Secretary General Mosindi confirmed the lack of written documentation. The loan was reportedly dispensed prior to the signing of any agreement, raising concerns regarding its legitimacy.

The plaintiffs assertex that they felt compelled to take legal action to uphold their objectives, which include advocating for transparency and the welfare of athletes in Nigeria. They demanded clarity on the bank account into which the ₦70 million was deposited, as the Audit Report noted that the dedicated Special Bank Account was not yet operational.