FG withdraws fraud charges against Pinnick, other NFF officials

The federal government of Nigeria has withdrawn fraud charges against the president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, alongside other officials of the football governing body.

The officials are the NFF Secretary, Sunusi Mohammed; the 1st Vice-President, Seyi Akinwumi; the 2nd Vice-President, Shehu Dikko and an Executive member, Yusuff Fresh.

Okay.ng recalls that the FG had in arraigned Pinnick and four others on 18 counts for allegedly diverting the sum, which was given to the NFF as fees for appearing at the last Russia 2018 World Cup.

The AGF had taken over the case from the office of the Special Presidential Investigation Panel on Recovery of Public Property (SPIP) which filed the case against them.

During the resumption of the trial on Tuesday, the counsel representing the attorney-general of the federation (AGF) applied to withdraw the charges.

The AGF noted during the trial that he found out that there was no basis for the charges filed against Pinnick and other executive members of the NFF.

The counsel to the defendants, Mohammed Katu, asked the court to acquit the defendants since the FG has applied for withdrawal of the charges.

Ijeoma Ojukwu, the judge, then ruled and discharged them.