Group urges Presidency to probe $2.2million basketball’s Kwese deal

A group of Nigerian basketball stakeholders and concerned sports enthusiasts under the aegis of Friends of Nigeria Sports (FNS), want President Muhammadu Buhari to launch a full investigation into the alleged embezzlement of the $2.2million paid to the former board of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), by Econet for the botched Kwese Nigeria male basketball league.

In a statement yesterday, FNS said that there were calculated attempts by some individuals to mislead the public about the money.

Spokesperson for FNS, Akeem Busari, stated that it was necessary for President Buhari to launch a full investigation into the matter, in line with the government’s policy of zero-tolerance for corruption.

“Earlier this week, a denial was published online by some foot soldiers of the former NBBF boss, describing the allegation of embezzlement of the Kwese funds as fake news. We are not surprised. That was a desperate attempt to deny an obvious crime against basketball and the people of Nigeria,” Busari stated.

“As genuinely concerned Nigerians, we want Nigerians, particularly, the Presidency to ask the past board which NBBF account was the Kwese money paid into?

“The people should explain why they did not hand over the funds to the new board that succeeded them? If the money was paid into a private account, it is a crime that comes with jail term consequences,” Busari stated.