Alleged $9.5m Misappropriation: Court Reserves Ruling in EFCC’s Motion to Join Pinnick, Sanusi

Justice Peter Affen of an Abuja High Court in Maitama on Thursday reserved ruling in a motion seeking to join the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, and NFF Secretary-General, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, as defendants in the alleged misappropriation of $9.5 million Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) grant suit.

Justice Affen reserved ruling in the motion filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after listening to counsel in the matter.

The anti-graft agency had dragged three officials of the NFF before the court over allegations of misappropriation of $9.5million FIFA grant.

They are being prosecuted on a five-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, breach of trust and misappropriation.

The defendants include Christopher Andekin, NFF Director of Administration and Finance; Reagan Zaka, Cashier, and Fadanari Mamza, Head, Finance and Account Department.

However, the commission, on April 30, applied to join both Pinnick and Sanusi in the matter as co-defendants.

The EFCC alleged that they conspired between January 8 and 26, 2015, to commit the offences, contrary to Section 97 of Penal Code.

Andekin was alleged to have been entrusted with money meant for the development of football in Nigeria, a grant from the world football body FIFA.

He was alleged to have fraudulently diverted $1.3million from the NFF domiciliary account with Zenith Bank, an act contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code.

Zaka, on his part, was said to have fraudulently diverted $7.2million from the FIFA grant, while Mamza was alleged of diverting $2. 3million.

The defendants all pleaded not guilty to the charge.

At the resumed sitting, while adopting processes filed in support of the joinder application, prosecuting counsel, Steve Odiase, urged the court to grant the application.

According to him, the charge filed by the government against the first and second defendants and both Pinnick and Sanusi at the Federal High Court in Abuja was different from the one at the FCT high court.

On his part, counsel for the defendants, Festus Ukpe, while adopting affidavits opposing the joinder, urged the court to refuse the application.

After listening to submissions of counsel, Justice Affen reserved ruling on the application till a date that will be communicated to parties.