An investigation by this reporter has uncovered how the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) paid at least ₦152,607,046.53 into private bank accounts belonging to officials, staff, and associates of the federation between September 2018 and March 2026.
The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), which oversees football administration in Nigeria and receives government funding alongside grants from FIFA and CAF, is expected to comply with financial regulations and transparency standards.
However, findings by this reporter raise concerns about transparency, financial accountability and compliance with public finance rules within the federation.
This investigation, based on payment records obtained from GovSpend, found that at least ₦152.6 million was paid into private bank accounts linked to individuals associated with the NFF between September 2018 and March 2026.
Further checks using open-source intelligence tools established direct links between the beneficiaries and the federation. The findings indicate that the recipients “were not independent contractors or external vendors, but individuals connected to the NFF,” raising questions about the nature of the payments and the financial controls governing the transactions.
One of the major beneficiaries identified in the records is Yusuf Ahmed, a senior figure in Nigeria’s football administration structure.
Ahmed, a senior NFF official who serves on the federation’s Executive Board, chairs its Technical and Development Committee, and is a member of the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU), received ₦67.355 million in four separate payments between September 2018 and April 2021, according to records reviewed by this reporter.
The payments included ₦44.8 million linked to the 2018 NFF Annual General Assembly in Asaba, Delta State; ₦9.1 million for an advance party trip to South Africa ahead of a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier; ₦6 million for official trips within the South-South and South-East zones of Nigeria; and ₦7.45 million described as staff welfare for the first quarter of 2021.
The payments were made into Ahmed’s private account despite his role on the federation’s anti-corruption and transparency unit.
Another beneficiary, Dachollom Zaka Rajan, identified through publicly available records as the NFF Director of Finance and Administration, received ₦13,116,279.07 on September 8, 2023.
The payment description stated that the funds were for “accommodation and feeding of NFF guests”.
The transaction drew attention because Rajan oversees financial administration within the federation, raising questions about internal controls and possible conflict of interest.
The investigation also found that Ofikwu Victor, identified as an NFF staff member, received ₦23,196,279.07 across two separate payments.
One transaction of ₦13.1 million made in September 2023 was linked to the accommodation and feeding of NFF guests at Chida International Hotel, while another payment of ₦10.08 million in October 2024 was described as accommodation expenses for NFF staff in Lagos during the Super Falcons’ international friendly matches against Algeria.
Another recipient, Iduh Sunday, received ₦11,718,139.54 tied to hospitality-related services.
According to the payment records, ₦5.16 million was paid in October 2021 for accommodation and feeding of NFF guests during a World Cup qualifier against the Central African Republic in Lagos, while another ₦6.55 million payment made in September 2023 was linked to accommodation and feeding of referees.
Alabi Bamidele Jacob also received ₦16,995,348.85 through two separate transactions.
One of the payments was described as legal fees for services rendered by George Etomi & Partners, while the second covered the procurement of flight tickets for NFF delegations travelling to Cairo, Egypt, for the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.
Similarly, Jibril Nasiru, who serves as Coordinator of the FIFA Talent Development Scheme in Nigeria and Deputy Director of Technical at the NFF, received ₦14,826,000 in two payments.
The records showed that ₦9.8 million was paid as end-of-year welfare packages for NFF staff in 2023, while ₦5 million was linked to the purchase of VIP airport vehicle stickers.
Another official, Muhammad Ali Abubakar, identified as Head of Associations at the NFF, received ₦5.4 million in March 2026.
The payment was described as travel-related expenses for the inauguration of newly constituted NFF electoral and appeals committee members.
What Does the Law Say?
Legal experts who spoke to this reporter said the payment of public funds into private accounts, as uncovered by this investigation, raises serious concerns about compliance with Nigeria’s financial laws and could amount to both administrative and criminal violations.
A Lagos-based lawyer, Barrister Majeed Ayoola, described the practice as a “clear departure from established public financial procedures.”
“Once funds are classified as public money, there is a strict obligation that they must pass through approved government channels,” Ayoola said, citing Section 713 of the Financial Regulations 2009, which states that “no public money should find its way into private accounts under any guise.”
He added that payments made directly to individuals without legal authorisation could trigger concerns about accountability, abuse of office, and possible fraud.
Section 713 of the Financial Regulations 2009 expressly provides that “personal money shall in no circumstances be paid into a government bank account, nor shall any public money be paid into a private account.” The regulation further states that any officer who authorises such transactions is deemed to have acted with fraudulent intent.
Similarly, the Public Finance Management Act, 2024, prohibits the payment of public funds into private accounts except where authorised by law. The Act also classifies unauthorised payments, diversion of funds, and failures to properly account for public money as financial misconduct punishable by imprisonment, restitution, and forfeiture of misappropriated funds.
According to constitutional and public finance lawyer Barrister Aisha Bello, the law was strengthened to close loopholes that previously allowed public funds to be routed through unofficial channels.
“Section 48 makes it clear that payments must go directly to named beneficiaries through approved systems. Anything outside that structure is not just irregular, it is an offence,” she said.
Bello noted that liability could extend beyond beneficiaries to officials who authorised, facilitated, or concealed such transactions.
Taken together, the Financial Regulations 2009 and the Public Finance Management Act, 2024, establish a strict legal framework to ensure transparency, prevent the diversion of public funds, and hold public officials accountable for financial decisions.
Expert Warns of Accountability Gaps in Nigerian Football
Sports administrator Ahmed Shuaibu Gara-Gombe said the findings highlight longstanding accountability problems within Nigerian football and the wider sports sector.
He explained that the NFF receives funds from FIFA, CAF, the Federal Government and sponsors, stressing that all such funds must be managed transparently and used for their intended purposes.
“Whether the money comes from FIFA, CAF, the Federal Government, or sponsors, the principle is the same. The funds are supposed to be managed transparently and expended for the purposes for which they were given,” he said.
Gara-Gombe noted that while FIFA and CAF monitor their grants through internal audits, public funds allocated to the NFF should be subject to greater scrutiny.
“The Federal Government has every right to ask questions about money appropriated by the National Assembly because it is taxpayers’ money. Accountability should not be optional when public funds are involved,” he said.
He added that although financial management under the current NFF administration has improved, accountability gaps remain. According to him, the problem extends beyond football and affects several sports federations across Nigeria.
NFF Silent, ICPC Acknowledges Petition, EFCC Yet To Respond
Efforts by this reporter to obtain official responses from the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) yielded limited results.
Repeated calls, text messages, WhatsApp messages and emails sent to NFF General Secretary Dr. Mohammed Sanusi and Communications Director Ademola Olajire were not answered, despite evidence that of these messages were delivered and read by them.
This reporter also sent emails containing his findings, payment records and supporting infographics to the NFF, EFCC, and ICPC.
The ICPC acknowledged receiving the petition and said it would notify this reporter of any further developments but did not address the allegations raised.
However, as of the time this report was filed, the EFCC had neither acknowledged the correspondence nor responded to the issues highlighted in the investigation. The NFF also remained silent despite several attempts to obtain its reaction.
— Report by Abdulwasiu Olokooba
This report was produced with support from Civic Media Lab.
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