By Our Correspondent

The National Association of Nigeria Footballers, NANF has charged President, Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick to show letter of evidence written to sponsors of Nigeria football asking them to withdraw their patronage, Bestchoicesports.com.ng reports.

NANF in a release Wednesday and made available to our correspondent noted that Mr Pinnick’s assertion was in bad taste and a calculated attempt to stymie stakeholders’ continued clamour for due process, accountability and transparency in the management of all monies meant for football development in the country.

Mr Pinnick in a release Tuesday said
“Actually, we should continue to appreciate our sponsors and partners for what they are doing. Their love of the game has kept them, as well as personal relationships.

“The disgruntled persons who are doing everything to foist a toxic environment on our football have even been writing to them to withdraw their sponsorship, threatening them and all that. I received a message an hour ago about someone wanting to take PwC, our external auditors, to court. We should all rise up and question the motives of these fellows. If not for personal relationships and their passion for the game, most of our partners would have pulled out as a result of the deleterious activities of these individuals.

“Before all these toxic issues polluted the football environment, we were well on the way to achieving our objective of making the NFF fully self-funding.”

NANF in a rejoinder Wednesday said the “toxic environment is being created in our football and this has become their mantra in the recent times to divert attention from the massive fraud in the NFF.”

“The attention of the National Association of Nigeria Footballers (NANF) has been drawn to the media call by the NFF President Amaju Pinnick yesterday in which he was quoted to have insinuated that a toxic environment is being created in our football and this has become their mantra in the recent times to divert attention from the massive fraud in the NFF.

“The NANF States as follows- the NFF is a public institution and we have a constitutional right to question how funds meant for football development in Nigeria is being managed under Pinnick’s watch, NANF actions in this regard as true representatives of Nigerian footballers predated the emergence of Pinnick’s Board. The NANF has been seriously concerned that Amaju Pinnick right from his days as chairman Delta state sports Commission and now as NFF president has not been frugal with public funds and these are funds meant for football Development in Nigeria for both present, past and future generations of Nigeria footballers.

“The NANF was justified because the foremost anti-graft agency in Nigeria the EFCC has in an interim report dated 18th November 2018 to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari indicted the NFF under Pinnick’s watch.

“The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission(ICPC) in a public notice seizure sealed Pinnick and Dikko’s properties awaiting a court order of final forfeiture.

“That Pinnick and Dikko are still resident in those properties doesn’t foreclose the matter, issues are following due process of Law. These are the characters that are parading themselves as leaders running the affairs of Nigeria football.These are the same guys Channels TV the most credible television station in Africa will open its studio and give unlimited airtime at their beck and call.

“What stops Pinnick and Dikko to sue ICPC for sealing their properties and justify the fact that they never acquired those properties by crooked means? Instead they have embarked on an endless journey of trying to pervert justice by compromising every sector involved in their ongoing investigation, including my good self (Harrison Jalla).

“Pinnick and I (Jalla) know how many high profile Nigerians have intervened in this matter at his own instance and if it degenerates to mentioning names we shall do so in due course. If Pinnick and his gang are innocent of our allegations that they looted our common patrimony why don’t they submit themselves to the criminal justice system and prove us wrong?

“ON PWC- Pinnick should have talked straight, It is not a threat NANF will sue PWC in fact that line of action is in progress. NANF must challenge their integrity and professional competence for always giving the SHAMBOLIC accounting system the NFF is operating a clean bill of health, this is very worrisome. And we maintain that there is collusion, PWC is shielding corruption in NFF.

“Pinnick was also quoted to have said that stakeholders should rise. Against whom? Maybe to cover his track, who are the stakeholders that will rise up? The conquered and lame duck NFF congress? If there are purported letters to NFF sponsors, pinnick should speak with evidence and publish such letters. Not to cover his track by cheap blackmail. Our motives are purely patriotic. Pinnick cannot be telling Nigerians barefaced lies that he prosecutes every home match for the Super Eagles at 300 million Naira. His predecessors in office are just a phone call away, we can put a call across to them to confirm. Pinnick should stop hawking Super Eagles to state governors. 300 million Naira will go a long way to regrass the National Stadium Surulere Lagos, fix the plastic chairs and renovate the conveniences.

“Bring back the Super Eagles to Lagos the capital of corporate Nigeria. We have no other brand bigger than the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Super Eagles brand itself is commercially viable if properly driven.

“We must have a permanent home ground like other super powers in football, Wembly for England and Maracana for Brazil.

“As we speak no verified accounts to show expenditures of Super Eagles matches in the states. Its all a scam to steal and share money.

“Stephen Keshi stadium Asaba is a sub-Standard stadium for the Super Eagles matches,” part of the release read.