ICPC PLEA BARGAIN: Shocked Stakeholders Insist NFF Officials Must Also Quit Posts
Major stakeholders of Nigeria Football have expressed shock and even disbelief after it broke that accused NFF chieftains led by President Amaju Pinnick have requested for a plea bargain to escape corruption trial by ICPC, just as some others insisted that besides forfeiting cash and property, they must also quit their public offices.
www.insideglasshouse.com first reported that Pinnick, Vice Presidents Seyi Akinwunmi and Shehu Dikko, Executive Committee Member Ahmed Yusuf ‘Fresh’ as well as Secretary General Mohammed Sanusi have agreed to forfeit Millions of US Dollars and properties for the corruption case against them not to be tried in court.
A powerful stakeholder from the North West maintained that besides forfeiting money and properties, the top officials ought to quit their posts.
“For them to enter a plea bargain it is an admission of guilt even though is also their right,” he said.
“But it has to go beyond just properties and cash, they are no longer qualified to hold public office unless we want to send a wrong signal to the younger generation that they can also get away with crime.”
“I am convinced that a day is coming, if not soon, that these looters of a commonwealth would be brought to justice,” added a top politician, who was involved with sports at a top level.
“There will be no more cover for them, no amount of manipulation will stop them from disgrace.
“It’s just a matter of time.”
A heavyweight in Nigeria Football politics from the South East could not believe that the ICPC corruption case against Pinnick and co is still running.
“Is this case still on? I thought it was over,” he said.
“These people are in habit of telling lies to deflect stakeholders from knowing the truth.”
A top official of the players’ union, PFAN, was however skeptical that with a compromised system, he does not expect the case to reach a logical conclusion.
“Will anything come out of this?” he asked rhetorically.
