$150,000 Mistakenly Paid Into Athletics Federation of Nigeria Account by IAAF Goes Missing

World athletics ruling body (IAAF) may come down heavily on Nigeria after $150,000 (about N52 million), mistakenly paid into the the board of the Athletics Federations of Nigeria (AFN) account went missing.

 

The IAAF had intended paying $15,000 annual grants to member federations for the year 2017 but erroneously paid $150,000 to AFN. 

 

In a report by Guardian, the IAAF accountants later discovered the error and subsequently asked AFN to refund the excess payment, but the money is said to have ‘developed wings.’

 

Speaking with The Guardian yesterday, AFN Vice President, Olamide George said that a majority of the board members know nothing about such money saying: “I think the money came just when we were taking over from the past administration.

 

But the truth is that it is only the AFN secretary who knows how he received the IAAF money.

 

If the money was paid into AFN account, it could have gone through the Treasury Single Account (TSA). I am sure the secretary used his personal account to collect the money from IAAF, which I think is wrong.

“The secretary was transferred from AFN before, but the sports minister (Solomon Dalung) brought him back. They should tell Nigerians what happened to the IAAF money.

I cannot be part of AFN board and all sorts of things are happening behind the scene. We must not fold our hands until IAAF sanctions Nigeria because of this issue,” George stated.

 

Also speaking with The Guardian yesterday, AFN Technical Director, Sunday Adeleye said: “I can tell you categorically that since we came on board, no single money has been paid into the AFN account.

So, it will be difficult for me to speak on this IAAF $150,000 grants.”

 

Efforts to speak with AFN Secretary General, Amechi Akawo were unsuccessful.