3 NFF staff in trouble over $9.5m FIFA grant
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by edith nwapi2 affen then adjourned until nov. 27 for commencement of trial1 the defendants are christopher andekin nff director of administration and finance reagan zaka cashier and fadanari mamza head finance and account department1 they were dragged to the court by the economic and financial crimes commission efcc on a five-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy breach of trust and misappropriation1 the prosecutor mr steve odiase told the court that the three defendants conspired between jan. 8 and jan. 26 2015 to commit the offences contrary to section 97 of penal code1 odiase alleged that andekin was entrusted with money meant for the development of football in nigeria a grant from the federation of international football association fifa1 three officials of nigeria football federation nff were on thursday docked in an fct high court at maitama accused of misappropriating 9.5 million dollars and 1.3 million1 he further alleged that zaka on his part fraudulently diverted 7. 2 million dollar grant from fifa for development of football in nigeria whilemamza diverted 2. 3 million1 the defendants all pleaded not guilty to the charges and their counsel mr arinze egbo applied for their bail1 the judge justice peter affen upheld the administrative bail granted to them earlier by the efcc1 in addition he ordered that the sureties should sign bond with the registrar of the court and the defendants should deposit their international passports1 he said that andekin however fraudulently diverted 1.3 million from the nff domiciliary account with zenith bank an act that is contrary to section 311 of the penal code1