Former President, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdulahi and three of his former board members yesterday lost in their bid to stop the corruption charges brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Ogunjobi

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja had ruled against the no- case-submission filed by Amanze Uchegbulam, a former first Ogunjobi, a former chairman of the technical committee and former general- secretary, Bolaji Ojo-Oba.

The accused persons were said to have mismanaged about N1.3 billion while in office between 2006 and 2010 in the eight count charge brought against them by the EFCC.

Presiding Judge, Justice Evoh Chukwu, while dismissing their   application said the defendants were bound by the Public Procurement Act (PPA) and as such should defend themselves in the charge levelled against them by the anti- graft agency.

“Let me on unequivocal term say that NFA or NFF which manages football in Nigeria enjoys the patronage of the Federal Government of Nigeria either collective or through the National Sports Commission.

“The NFF status is not an act of the National Assembly but it must be subject to the laws of Nigeria.

This is particularly in a case where the money being expended is tax payers’ money and not one of a limited liability company.

“The provision of section 60 of the Public Procurement Act (PPA) covers NFF and having said that, it followed that all the defendants are bound by the provision of the PPA,” the Judge ruled.

On whether the third accused person (Ojo-Oba) had any case to answer since he was not a board member of the NFF, the Court insisted that the NFF General Secretary had much to answer because the NFF status bestowed on the General Secretary all the administrative work of the NFF Secretariat.

Sani Lulu

“By the provision of the law, the third defendant might be privy to the dealings of the NFF in normal situation. This is equally brought by the provisions of Article 42, 61, 65 and 66 respectively; what is more is that article 62 of the status defined the role of the third accused.

“It is obvious that the third accused is an active member of the NFF and does not need to be a board member to have been charged with other accused persons,” he said.