A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Maju Pinnick, President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Igbere TV reports.
Igbere TV reports that the court also issued same warrant for the arrest of four other officials of the NFF accused of misappropriating funds belonging to the football body.
Our correspondent reports that Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu gave the order on Monday after the case involving the NFF officials was called and they were absent in court.
Igbere TV gathered that also to be affected by the arrest order are NFF Secretary, Sunusi Mohammed; the 1st Vice-President, Seyi Akinwumi; the 2nd Vice-President, Shehu Dikko and an Executive member, Yusuff Fresh.
Igbere TV recalls that the Federal Government had earlier this year filed a 17-count charge before the court, in which it accused the NFF officials of alleged misappropriation of $8,400,000 belonging to the football body.
The money was said to have been paid by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) to the NFF as appearance fees in the group state of the Russia 2018 World Cup.
The defendants are also accused of “moving dishonestly and intentionally the sum of about N4bn” belonging to the NFF without the consent of the football body.
