Former President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, has dismissed allegations of mismanaging $1.2 million meant for the FIFA Goal Project in Kebbi State, saying the issue was misunderstood by the public.
His reaction followed backlash after FIFA shared a photo of the Kebbi Stadium, part of its Forward Programme, showing an uncompleted structure that sparked outrage among Nigerians questioning the use of funds.
Pinnick, speaking on ARISE News on Wednesday, said FIFA maintains strict audit processes, which make fund diversion impossible.
“If FIFA gives you their money, they audit their money, they know A to Z, and they have standards. So if the contract was about 1.1 million dollars in 2020, how much was it in naira? Less than 400 million naira. That’s what people don’t know,” he said.
“Everything went according to plan. The contract stated there was no variation, not even after COVID. There was no extra dime added to it,” he added.
He urged Nigerians to verify facts before passing judgment, insisting that his administration had always been transparent.
“I just want to appeal, let us get our facts right before we come out to the public and start saying things,” he said.
Pinnick’s defence came as the House of Representatives, on Tuesday, resolved to set up a special committee to investigate FIFA and CAF grants totaling $25 million given to the NFF.
Earlier, Chairman of the House Committee on Sports, Kabiru Amadu, explained that FIFA does not build or construct standard stadiums for countries but funds development projects through its Forward Programme.
