By Ghazali Ibrahim
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have commenced investigations into the utilisation of a N12 billion intervention fund released by the Federal Government to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for players’ wages and bonuses.
The development came to light after the NFF declined to release financial records and utilisation documents relating to the fund to a law firm that requested them under the Freedom of Information Act.
In a letter dated August 18, 2026, and signed by Onoja Joshua, Esq., on behalf of the NFF General Secretary, the federation said the requested documents were already with the two anti-corruption agencies handling the investigation.
The request was made by the Principal Partner of Cromwell & Okeke. The firm, in correspondence dated August 7 but received by the NFF on August 11, sought access to financial statements, utilisation logs and other records showing how the N12 billion intervention fund was managed and spent.
However, the federation said it could not provide the documents because the matter was already subject to investigations by the EFCC and ICPC.
The letter, referenced NFF/LEG/10/1/879 and titled, “Re: Application for disclosure of financial records and utilisation logs regarding the N12 billion Federal Government Intervention Fund released for players’ wages and bonuses,” stated that the relevant records were no longer in the federation’s possession.
The NFF said, “The subject matter of the request under the Freedom of Information Act is subject to investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).”
It added that “all documents relating to the request are before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).”
The investigation places the management of the government’s N12 billion football intervention fund under scrutiny, particularly regarding its utilisation for players’ wages and bonuses.
