The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) have been asked to do a forensic examination of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) Audit Committee’s report that uncovered misappropriation of funds and serial violations of Nigeria’s Public Sector Financial Regulation Laws.
In a petition addressed to the two anti-graft agencies, five AFN executive board members, including its first and second vice presidents, Tafida Gadzama and Rosa Collins, alerted EFCC and ICPC on the violation of section 713 of Nigeria’s Public Sector Financial Regulation Laws which says, ‘any officer who pays public money into a private bank account is deemed to have done so with fraudulent intentions.’
They were also alerted to the fact that the 70m naira that accrued to the AFN from the 100m naira a year sponsorship agreement with Premium Trust Bank was not paid into the special purpose account stipulated in the contract.
The members believe the money must have been paid into a private account and want the EFCC and the ICPC to investigate it following alleged refusal of the AFN Secretary General, Rita Moshindi, to avail the committee of the Federation’s Bank statements as demanded during their investigations.
‘The EFCC and the ICPC should also demand for the approval from the executive board of the AFN authorizing the payment,’ the petition read.
According to the petition, EFCC and ICPC were asked to interrogate among other things the intention behind the proposal when most of the events were not covered by the terms of the agreement signed between the AFN and Premium Trust Bank.
The board members say they were disappointed that the Federal Ministry of Sports Development failed to act at a time when President Bola Tinubu says there will be zero tolerance for corrupt and unwholesome practices in the Public sector.
“We have been compelled to take this matter to the anti-corruption agencies following our supervisory body’s apparent foot-dragging on the very weighty issues the report uncovers,’ said Gadzama.
