An FCT High Court, Maitama, on Monday fixed February 20 for ruling in an application to join the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Amaju Pinnick, and Secretary-General, Mohammed Sanusi in the alleged misappropriation of $9.5 million FIFA grant.
Justice Peter Affen had earlier fixed October 22, 2019, for ruling in the application before the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, informed the court of the decision to harmonise.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) dragged three officials of NFF before the court in an alleged $9.5 million FIFA grant misappropriation before applying on April 30 to join both Pinnick and Sanusi in the matter as co-defendants.
Those being tried earlier were Christopher Andekin, NFF Director of Administration and Finance; Reagan Zaka, Cashier; and Fadanari Mamza, Head, Finance and Account Department.
The EFCC charged the defendants with five counts bordering on criminal conspiracy, breach of trust and misappropriation.
The EFCC alleged that they conspired between January 8 and 26, 2015 to commit the offence, contrary to Section 97 of Penal Code.
Mr Andekin was alleged to have been entrusted with money meant for the development of football in Nigeria, a grant from world football body, the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA).
He was alleged to have fraudulently diverted $1.3 million from the NFF domiciliary account with Zenith Bank, an act that is contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code.
Zaka, on his part, was said to have fraudulently diverted $7.2 million from the FIFA grant, while Mamza was alleged of diverting $23 million.
The defendants all pleaded not guilty to the charge
On June 27, 2019; while adopting processes filed in support of the application for joinder, the prosecuting counsel, Steve Odiase, urged the court to grant the application.
According to him, the charge filed by the government against the first, second defendants and both Pinnick and Sanusi at the Federal High Court in Abuja was different from the one at the FCT High Court.
On his part, counsel for the defendants, Festus Ukpe, while adopting affidavits opposing the joinder, urged the court to refuse the application.
At the resumed hearing, on Monday, senior state counsel, Federation Ministry of Justice, Abubakar Musa, told the court that the Attorney General of the Federation was withdrawing the application for harmonisation to enable EFCC to go on with the matter.
