EFCC and ICPC Investigate NFF Officials Over N12bn Fund

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission are looking into how the N12 billion Federal Government fund was used by the Nigeria Football Federation. This fund was meant for players’ salaries and bonuses.

President Bola Tinubu approved the fund in 2024 to settle unpaid wages owed to Nigeria’s national teams.

A reliable source told our reporter on Thursday that some officials connected to the case have been invited to provide statements to the investigators.

"They have been under our radar before now. We invited some officials over to our offices, and they gave their statements. Presently, they are on administrative bail. We have not ended our investigation," the source said.

This information came from a letter signed by Onoja Joshua, Esq., on behalf of the NFF General Secretary. The letter responded to a request for financial records and logs related to the N12 billion fund.

Dated August 18, 2026, the letter was sent to the Principal Partner of Cromwell & Okeke. The request was first sent on August 7, 2026, and received by NFF on August 11.

SaharaReporters published a copy of the NFF’s response on Thursday. The request was made under the Freedom of Information Act for access to financial records and other documents about the N12 billion intervention fund for players’ wages and bonuses.

But the NFF refused to release the records, saying the two anti-corruption agencies are still investigating.

"I am directed to refer to the above subject matter and your correspondence dated 7th August, 2026 but received on 11th August, 2026," the letter stated.

"It is my instruction to inform you that the subject matter of the request under the Freedom of Information Act is subject to investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.

"Therefore, all documents relating to the request are before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission."

In January 2024, before the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, it was reported that President Tinubu had approved the payment of funds owed by the Federal Government to the Super Eagles and other teams.

A statement from Tinubu’s Media Centre on X said the payment covered 15 months of unpaid salaries for the senior national team coaches, as well as allowances for senior men’s, women’s, and U-20 teams.

"President @officialABAT has approved the payment of N12 billion outstanding backlog for Nigeria’s National teams of various sports, which includes Super Eagles and others," the statement read.

"The payment entails clearing the senior national team coaches’ salaries running up to 15 months, payments of allowances and promises due to the senior national teams, women’s teams, and U-20 national team."

In November 2025, the Super Eagles boycotted training in Rabat, Morocco. They did this before a crucial 2026 World Cup play-off against Gabon, citing unpaid allowances from 2019 for reaching the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and qualifying for the World Cup play-offs.

In April 2026, The PUNCH reported that some members of the 2023 and 2025 Nigeria men’s U-20 team, the Flying Eagles, complained that the NFF owed them N1.5 billion. This covered bonuses for qualifying for six major tournaments and camp allowances for about 65 days.

The latest investigation comes amid ongoing public worries about how Nigerian football is run. The Super Falcons did not qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, just as the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

NFF president Ibrahim Gusau, elected in September 2022 at the federation’s congress in Benin City, is seeking a second term in the upcoming election on September 27. There is growing criticism of his leadership.

Though the NFF board denies it, there are claims that the National Sports Commission wants to stop the elections and set up a committee to manage Nigerian football.

As of the time of this report, the spokespersons for the ICPC and EFCC, John Odey and Dele Oyewale, could not be reached.