The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have commenced investigations into the utilisation of the N12 billion Federal Government intervention fund released to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for outstanding players’ wages, allowances and bonuses.
The development has seen some officials connected to the management of the funds summoned by the anti-graft agencies to provide explanations on their handling of the money.
A source familiar with the investigation told our correspondent on Thursday that some officials had already appeared before investigators and made statements.
“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.
The investigation was further confirmed in a letter issued by the NFF in response to a request for access to financial records and utilisation documents relating to the intervention fund.
The letter, signed by Onoja Joshua, Esq., on behalf of the NFF General Secretary, was dated August 18, 2026, and addressed to the Principal Partner of Cromwell & Okeke.
The law firm had, in correspondence dated August 7 and received by the NFF on August 11, sought details of the fund under the Freedom of Information Act.
The NFF, however, declined to release the requested documents, explaining that the matter was already being investigated by the EFCC and ICPC.
“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 of 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.”
The development follows persistent complaints by players and officials over unpaid allowances and bonuses owed by the NFF, despite the Federal Government’s intervention.
In January 2024, ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire, President Bola Tinubu approved N12 billion to settle outstanding obligations to Nigeria’s national teams.
The President’s Media Centre said at the time that the intervention covered 15 months of unpaid salaries owed coaches of the senior national team, as well as allowances and other outstanding payments due to the senior men’s, women’s and Under-20 national teams.
The statement said the payment was intended to clear “outstanding backlog” owed to national teams across various sporting disciplines, including the Super Eagles.
However, concerns over unpaid entitlements persisted.
In November 2025, the Super Eagles reportedly boycotted a training session in Rabat, Morocco, ahead of their 2026 World Cup play-off against Gabon, citing outstanding allowances dating back to 2019.
Similarly, in April 2026, The PUNCH reported that members of Nigeria’s 2023 and 2025 Flying Eagles teams were owed about N1.5 billion in qualification bonuses and camp allowances.
The latest investigation also comes amid renewed scrutiny of the administration of Nigerian football following the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the Super Falcons’ inability to secure a place at the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
NFF President, Ibrahim Gusau, elected in September 2022, is seeking a second term at the federation’s planned September 27 elective congress.
His administration has faced criticism in recent months, while there have also been claims that the National Sports Commission is seeking to halt the election and establish a normalisation committee to oversee the administration of Nigerian football.
The NFF board has denied the claim.
Efforts to obtain comments from the EFCC and ICPC were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report, as the spokespersons of the agencies, Dele Oyewale and John Odey, respectively, could not be reached.