Why NFF scribe, Amadu, resigned

There were indications yesterday that the House of Representatives Committee on Sports’ directive to the Nigeria Football Federation concerning the $3.6 m (N720m), which the Federal Government gave to the federation during the Brazil 2014 World Cup, may have claimed its first victim. Specifically, sources say th

at Wednesday’s resignation from office of the NFF Secretary General, Musa Amadu, was a direct fall-out of that directive.

In fact, some sources say Amadu was forced to tender his resignation by members of the NFF board. The House Committee on Sports had last week directed the NFF to include the $3.6 million in its projected 2015 budget rather than returning it to the Federal Government as planned by the federation. The NFF received the sum of $9 million from FIFA as the money accruing to Nigeria for getting up to the second stage of the Brazil 2014 World Cup.

Last week, NFF president, Amaju Pinnick, told the House of Representatives Committee on Sports that the federation had settled most of its inherited debts from the money it received from FIFA, adding that it had set aside the sum of $3.6 million to be refunded to the Federal Government, which bailed it out when the Super Eagles threatened to boycott the second round match against France if their bonuses and appearance fees were not settled before the game.

However, sources told The Guardian that unknown to the NFF executive board, the House of Representatives members already had the information that the board members had other plans for the money, hence the committee chairman, Godfrey Ali Gaiya, insisted that the money should not be returned but be added to the federation’s proposed budget for 2015.

Amadu was allegedly forced to tender his resignation late on Wednesday after falling out with the NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, over the federation’s finances. Last week, the executive committee meeting of the NFF was deadlocked when there was an attempt to replace Amadu and send him to the Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Karu, Plateau State (NIPSS).

Meanwhile, Sanusi Mohammed, who was the Director of Competitions at the NFF, has been named the substantive general secretary.