Again, Pinnick, Dikko Others Fail To Appear In Court Over Misappropriation Of N4 Billion
Again, Pinnick, Dikko Others Fail To Appear In Court Over Misappropriation N4 Billion
By Our Correspondent
The President, Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick and four others again failed to appear before the Abuja High Court over misappropriation/embezzlement of $8, 450 and N4 billion meant for football development in the country, Bestchoicesports.com.ng can report.
When the case came up for hearing today at the Federal High Court 8 , Central Area District, Abuja, the accused persons, NFF president, Amaju Pinnick, 1st vice-president, Seyi Akinwunmi, 2nd vice-president, Shehu Dikko, NFF Board member, Ahmed Yusuf Fresh, and secretary general, Dr Mohammed Sanusi will be arraigned today in Federal High Court, Abuja on fresh charges bordering on misappropriation of Four billion naira and $8,400, all failed to appear for the arraignment.
Best Choice Sports correspondent who covered the sitting reports that presiding judge, the Justice Ifeoma Ojukwu, granted the prayers of the defence counsel to serve the accused person the letter of arraignment via substituted means.
Responding to interviews at the end of the hearing which lasted for less than an hour, lead counsel to the Special President Investigative panel, Dr Celsus Ukpong said that the court had granted them the right to serve the accused by substituted means adding that with such legal backing procured, the accused persons will unfailing appear on July 1st, 2019 for arraignment.
“The case came up for arraignment and plea but the defendants were not in court because we did not serve them. They were evading service, so we applied to the court to give us substituted service. That is the legal backing to serve them through substituted means.
“It was after the plea was granted that the court adjourned till July 1st for arraignment. On July first, they must be arraigned,” he said.
The counsel debunked rumour that the SPIP does not have statutory right to prosecute or arrest the accused
“That the office of the Anthony General and Minister of Justice requested that the case documents be transferred to it will not stop judgement. We are working in synergy.”
A member of the SPIP legal team, Barr. Fayaien Jigha explained what it means to serve someone via substituted means.
“To serve by substituted means is to serve the accused the notice of arraignment either at his office, residence or the gate. It can be by pasting it on the gate or the wall or even given it to the security where there is such.
“The law provides for personal service and nobody can receive it on his behalf but where the accused evades the service, then the counsel would apply for substituted means.
“So to serve by substituted means can also be through the newspaper, notice board or the gate of the residence or office of the accused. But in this case, the counsel was granted the leave to serve them through substituted means at their office address.
“The prayer before the court today was to serve them in their office because they occupy national offices. They are to appear on 1st July. They cannot take any excuse because before you can take any excuse, you must appear before the court to plead for it,” he said.
The Federal Government of Nigeria through Special Presidential Investigative Panel for Recovery of Public Property (SPIP) dragged the five Nigeria Football Federation officials to Federal High Court Abuja over alleged misappropriation of four billion naira (N4b) meant for development of football.
The Federal Government had on May 7th 2019 charged the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick and four others with alleged misappropriation of $8,400 belonging to the football body.
In a 17-count charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/93/2019, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday May 7th, the money was said to have been paid by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) to the NFF as appearance fees in the group state of the Russia 2018 World Cup.
The defendants were also accused of “moving dishonestly and intentionally the sum of about N4bn” belonging to the NFF without the consent of the NFF.
The five are also accused, in the charge filed by the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property (SPIP), led by Okoi Obono-Obla, of failing and neglecting to declare their assets.
