Alleged $8.4m, N4bn fraud: NFF President Pinnick, others shun court

The President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju
Pinnick and four other senior officials of the group were absent at
the Federal High Court, Abuja on Tuesday at the first mention of
the charge brought against them over their alleged complicity in
the misappropriation of $8,400, 000 and N4billon belonging to the
football body.

The Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of
Public Property (SPIP) had, earlier this month, filed the 17-count
charge, marked, FHC/ABJ/CR/93/2019 against Pinnick and others,
claiming among others that the money formed part of what was paid
by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) to
the NFF as appearance fees in the group stage of the Russia 2018
World Cup.

Named with Pinnick, in the charge, are NFF Secretary, Sunusi
Mohammed; the 1st Vice-President, Seyi Akinwumi; the 2nd
Vice-President, Shehu Dikko, and an Executive member, Yusuff
Fresh.

When the case was called on Tuesday, the defendants were not in
court.

Lawyer to SPIP, Celcius Ukpong said the prosecution was unable
to effect personal service on the defendants and applied for leave
to served through substituted means.

Ukpong said: “We have not been able to serve the defendants with
the copies of the charges.

“As a consequence, we have filed an ex parte motion for
substituted service. The defendants are evading service. We have
been to their offices. They are on what we call administrative
bail.

“But have been calling them to come to pick up the copies to
their charges and we have been to their offices to serve them, all
to no avail.

“We want to serve them through their offices by virtue of
section 125 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.”

Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu granted Ukpong’s application for
substituted service and adjourned till July 1 this year for
arraignment.

In the charge, the defendants are accused of “moving dishonestly
and intentionally the sum of about N4bn” belonging to the NFF
without the consent of the NFF.

The five defendants are equally accused of failing and
neglecting to declare their assets.

Some counts in the charge read:

*That you , Amaju Melvin Pinnick (M), Sunusi Mohammed (M), Seyi
Akinwumi ‘M’, Shehu Dikko ‘M’ and Yusuf Ahmed ‘M’ on or about 12th
day of December 2018 being public officers, with Nigeria Football
Federation, Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court
committed an offence to wit: refusal to declare your assets without
reasonable excuse and upon notice to declare your assets before the
Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public
Property, Abuja contrary to and punishable under S. 3 (3)(a) of the
Recovery of Public Property (Special Provision5)Act 2004 .

*That you , Amaju Melvin Pinnick ‘M’, Sunusi Mohammed ‘M’, Seyi
Akinwumi ‘M’, Shehu Dikko ‘M’ and Yusuf Ahmed ‘M’ on or about 12th
day of December 2018 being public officers with Nigeria Football
Federation Abuja within the jurisdiction of this court committed an
offence to wit: neglect to declare your assets without reasonable
excuse and upon notice to declare your assets before the Special
Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public
Property ,Abuja Contrary to and punishable under S. 3 (3)(a) of the
Recovery of Public Property (Special Provisions)Act 2004.

*That you , Amaju Melvin Pinnick ‘M’, on or about 23th day of
November 2014 being the president and public officer with Nigeria
Football Federation Abuja within the jurisdiction of this
honourable court committed an offence to wit: appoint a company you
have an interest , Financial Derivatives Ltd as a financial
consultant to the Nigeria Football Federation contrary to and
punishable under S. 5 of the code of Conduct Bureau And Tribunal
Act and punishable under section 1(2) and 10 (1) (a) of the
Recovery of Public Property (Special Provisions ) Act 2004.

*That you , Shehu Dikko ‘M’, on or about 23rd day of November
2014 being a member of executive committee and public officer with
Nigeria Football Federation, Abuja within the jurisdiction of this
honourable court, committed an offence to wit: allow a company you
have an interest , Mediterranean Sports Ltd appointed as a
marketing agent to the Nigeria Football Federation contrary to and
punishable under S. 5 of the Code Of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal
Act and punishable under sections 1(2) and 10 (1) (a) of the
Recovery of Public Property (Special Provisions ) Act 2004.

That you , Amaju Melvin Pinnick ‘M’, Sunusi Mohammed ‘M’, Seyi
Akinwumi ‘M’, Shehu Dikko ‘M’ and Yusuf Ahmed ‘M’ on or about 2014
during the FIFA World Cup at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this
honourable court,conspired to commit an offence to wit : criminal
breach of trust by a public servant by converting to your personal
use about the sum of $ 8,400,000 paid by FIFA to Nigeria Football
Federation (NFF) as appearances fees thereby committing an offence
contrary to section 96 and punishable under section 97 of the penal
code (CAP 105) LFN 2004.

*That you , Amaju Melvin Pinnick ‘M’, Sunusi Mohammed ‘M’, Seyi
Akinwumi ‘M’, Shehu Dikko ‘M’ and Yusuf Ahmed ‘M’ on or about 2014
during the FIFA world cup at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this
honourable court conspired to commit an offence to wit :
misappropriation of public funds by converting to your personal use
about the sum of $ 8,400,000 paid by FIFA to Nigeria Football
Federation (NFF) as appearances thereby committing an offence
contrary to section 96 and punishable under section 97 of the penal
code (CAP 105) LFN 2004.

*That you , Amaju Melvin Pinnick ‘M’, Sunusi Mohammed ‘M’, Seyi
Akinwumi ‘M’, Shehu Dikko ‘M’ and Yusuf Ahmed ‘M’ on or about 2014
during the FIFA world cup at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this
honourable court conspired to commit an offence to wit : criminal
misappropriation of funds by converting to your personal use about
the sum of $8,400,000 paid by FIFA to Nigeria Football Federation
(NFF) as appearances fees thereby committing an offence contrary to
section 96 and punishable under section 97 of the Penal Code (CAP
105) LPN 2004

*That you , Amaju Melvin Pinnlck ‘M’, Sunusi Mohammad ‘M’, Seyi
Aklnwuml ‘M’, Shehu Dikko ‘M’ and Yusuf Ahmed fresh ‘M’ on or about
2014 during the FIFA wand cup at Abuja within the jurisdiction of
this honourable court conspired to commit an offence to wit :
criminal breach of trust by converting to your personal use about
the sum of $8,400,000 paid by FIFA to Nigeria Football Federation
(NFF) as appearances thereby committing an offence contrary to
section 96 and punishable under section 97 of the Penal Code (CAP
105) LFN 2004

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