Ibrahim Magu, EFCC boss

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, October 18, 2018 arraigned three officials of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, for allegedly conspiring to steal money to the tune of $9.5m from the Federation’s account.

The money was part of the grant by the Federation of International Football Association, FIFA, to the NFF for the development of football in Nigeria.

The defendants – Christopher Andekin, Rajan Zaka and Jafaru Fadanari Mamza were arraigned on a 5-count charge of fraud before Justice Peter O. Affem of the FCT High Court, Maitama, Abuja.

Andekin, a director in the NFF, and his co-defendants, Zaka and Mamza, who are cashier and Head, Finance and accounts Department of the NFF, respectively allegedly diverted the said sum of $9,535,923.87 belonging to the Federation to personal use.

Andekin was particularly accused of fraudulently diverting N1,353,407.22 from the domiciliary account of the NFF domiciled in one of the new generation banks, without due process, contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code Cap 532 LFN 1990 and punishable under Section 312 of the same Code.

The defendants pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them.

Upon their plea, counsel to the EFCC, Steve Odiase, asked the court to fix a date for trial and remand the defendants in custody.

On the other hand, counsel to the defendants, Arinze Egbo, prayed the court to admit the defendants to bail as the offence for which they were docked is bailable. He added that the defendants had earlier been granted administrative bail by the EFCC and have not breached its conditions.

Justice Affem granted bail to the defendants in the sum of N5million bond, with one surety each. The sureties must be an officer not below Grade Level 14 in the Federal Civil Service. The defendants are to deposit their international passports with the court registrar.

The case has been adjourned to November 28, 2018 for hearing.