Former NFF Officials File No Case Submission In N1.3b Scam Trial

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday fixed November 15 for hearing in the no case submission filed by four former Nigerian Football Federation officials

The accused are former NFF President  Sani Lulu, former First Vice President Amanze Uchegbulam, former executive committee member Taiwo Ogunjobi and former Secretary-General Bolaji Ojo-Oba.

According to News Agency of Nigeria, the accused had earlier failed in their bid to get the Court of Appeal to quash the charges against them.

They are accused of unauthorised payment of estacodes/allowances of $800,000 to 220 delegates to the World Cup in South Africa as against 47 delegates approved for the trip. They are also alleged to have mismanaged N900million World Cup funds belonging to the NFF.
They are equally accused of purchasing luxury buses for the Super Eagles at inflated prices and incurring a $125,000 fine in South Africa over a botched deal with a hotel.

At the resumed hearing on Thursday, counsel to the accused persons, Chief Sunday Ameh, SAN, reminded the court of a pending no case submission .

He said ;
“My Lord, my clients have filed a joint no-case-submission on about three grounds why they should not stand this trial.

“We have duly served the prosecution team and some responses received from them.

“We will be glad if the court allows us to move the motion with the hope of getting this case behind us."

Countering Chief Ameh's position, prosecution counsel Mr Titus Ashaolu, SAN said that the defense counsel had not responded to all the issues he raised against the motion.

However, the presiding judge, Justice Evoh Chukwu directed all parties to file written addresses for presentation at a later date.

His words ;
“Having agreed on the date to appear next in court, the matter is hereby adjourned till Nov. 15 for the adoption of your written addresses."