The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have opened investigations into the utilisation of the N12bn Federal Government intervention fund released to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for players’ wages and bonuses.
President Bola Tinubu approved the fund in 2024 to cover unpaid payments owed to Nigeria’s national teams.
A high source acquainted with the situation revealed to our correspondent on Thursday that some officials involved had been summoned by investigators and had given statements.
“They have been under our radar before now. We invited some officials over to our offices, and they gave their statements. Presently, they are on administrative bail. We have not ended our investigation,” the source said.
The declaration was made in a letter signed by Onoja Joshua, Esq., on behalf of the NFF’s General Secretary, in response to a request for the disclosure of financial records and utilization logs related to the fund.
The letter, dated August 18, 2026, was intended to the Principal Partner of Cromwell & Okeke in response to correspondence dated August 7, 2026, although it was received by the NFF on August 11.
SaharaReporters published a copy of the National Football Federation’s reaction on Thursday.
According to the newspaper, the request was made under the Freedom of Information Act, and it sought access to financial records and other information related to the N12 billion Federal Government intervention cash, which was supposedly released to the NFF for player salary and bonuses.
However, the NFF declined to produce the requested documents, citing ongoing investigations by the two anti-corruption authorities.
“I am directed to refer to the above subject matter and your correspondence dated 7th August, 2026 but received on 11th August, 2026,” the letter stated.
“It is my instruction to inform you that the subject matter of the request under the Freedom of Information Act is subject of investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
“Therefore, all documents relating to the request are before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.”
In January 2024, ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, Tinubu was reported to have approved the payment of unpaid payments owed by the Federal Government to the Super Eagles and other national athletic teams.
According to a statement posted on Tinubu’s Media Centre’s X Twitter, the payment covered 15 months of outstanding salaries owed to senior national team coaches, as well as allowances and other payments owed to the senior men’s, women’s, and U-20 national teams.
“President @officialABAT has approved the payment of N12bn outstanding backlog for Nigeria’s national teams of various sports, which includes Super Eagles and others,” the statement read.
“The payment entails the clearing of the senior national team coaches’ salaries running up to 15 months, payments of allowances and promises due to the senior national teams, women’s teams, and U-20 national team.”
In November 2025, the Super Eagles boycotted training in Rabat, Morocco, ahead of a vital 2026 World Cup play-off against Gabon, citing overdue allowances dating back to 2019 for achievements such as winning the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and qualifying for the World Cup play-offs.
In April 2026, some members of Nigeria’s men’s U-20 team, the Flying Eagles, claimed the NFF owed them N1.5 billion, which included qualification bonuses for participating in six major tournaments during the period, as well as pre-tournament camp allowances for about 65 days.
The latest investigation comes amid ongoing public concerns about Nigerian football administration and the Super Falcons’ recent failure to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, just as the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, who was elected in the federation’s election convention in Benin City in September 2022, is seeking a second term at the upcoming September 27 elective congress, despite growing criticism of his administration.
Although the NFF board has rejected it, there are reports that the National Sports Commission has moved to halt the elections and appoint a normalisation committee to oversee Nigerian football.
The ICPC and EFCC’s spokespersons, John Odey and Dele Oyewale, could not be reached at the time this article was filed.
