OBINNA OGBA, EX-NFF VICE PRESIDENT, EXPLODES

*NFF CONSISTENTLY LIED TO FIFA ON MANY ISSUES
*WE MADE OVER N1.2B YEARLY FROM SPONSORSHIP
*LULU IS STILL IN CONTROL OF AFFAIRS
*FIFA KNEW OF COURT ORDER
Obinna Ogba in an exclusive chance interview in Abuja yesterday was not willing to talk saying “time is not ripe yet” but a little more pressure made him to yield and the outcome was quite explosive. Enjoys the interview unedited as was delivered:
NIGERIANS THINK THE NEW BOARD OF THE NFF ELECTED IN 2010 IN ABUJA IS ILLEGAL. THERE WAS A LAGOS COURT INJUNCTION SERVED ON YOUR BOARD WHICH ALHAJI AMINU MAIGARI SIGNED FOR, YOUR BOARD IGNORED THE COURT AS IF SAYING ‘DO YOUR WORST’. IS THE NFF SUPERIOR TO THE COURTS OF THE LAND?
Well, it is true that the election has come and gone. As a politician, I have personally taken it in good faith. Its true that there a Lagos court order served on the NFF board. I am aware that former Super Eagles player, Chikelue Iloenyoesi served the injunction on Alhaji Aminu Maigari. The Assistant Secretary General of the federation presented it at our last board meeting.
Based on the premise that the present federal government under President Goodluck Jonathan respects and stresses its official mantra in the rule of law, board members reasoned and all agreed that the election be postponed on that ground. It was part of our communiqué. The Congress vetoed it. Remember too that the congress is the highest organ of decision in the game;
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Chief Patrick Ekeji, even called myself, the then acting President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari, and Dominic Iorfa to advise the NFF board to obey and respect the court order. They wrote us in that effect and left us to take the decision.
IS IT TRUE THAT YOUR BOARD REFUSED TO LET FIFA KNOW THAT THERE WAS AN INJUNCTION OF COURT ON YOU?
That may not be too true. There was an advocacy that the board should keep quiet and refuse to tell FIFA about the court order. Here, let me tell you, a member of the board, Dr Peter Singabele, met with the CAF and FIFA observers and let them know of the court order which he showed them. In principle, FIFA was aware of the court order but a clique of people hiding under the cloak of FIFA decided to manipulate the congress to ignore the court and conducted the election.
EX-INTERNATIONALS LIKE ALL THOSE WHO SIGNED THE IMPEACHMENT OF LULU, OGUNJOBI AND UCHEGBULAM GOT “VOTED OUT”. CAN THESE BE MERE COINCIDENCE?
As a politician, I knew all along that election is a game of numbers. The former leadership of the board under Alhaji Sani Lulu had the delegates in their firm grips. Their loyalty to him is 100%. He dictated the outcome of the election. No two ways about it. I have no regrets about how we got to where we got to. I can’t spit and go back to lick the spit. I have a name to protect. The impeachment was done to save Nigeria’s face and Nigerian football. Nigerians wanted and applauded what we did.
For those who spit on the ground and went begging on their chest and licked their spittle in the process, so be it. None of us that signed the impeachment returned. It’s okay. I wish the others will take it in good faith and watch the proceeding. Its only change that is permanent in life. Something will soon happen. Watch out.
Many people in football in Nigeria today are jobless. Football administration is their full time job. They can’t survive outside of football. To me, it’s a hobby. I’ve returned to my politics and business.
Candidly, we needed to have used the will of the sports minister, Ibrahim Bio, to have gotten it right once and for all. We have squandered it. This opportunity may not come our way again. Anyhow, at worst, four years is by the corner.
DO YOU AGREE THAT ALL OF YOU IN THE LAST BOARD ARE FAILURES?
I honestly feel that comment may not be fair. I happen to be the Chairman of the Marketing and Sponsorship Committee in the last board. We generated in a year about N1.2billion. Though, how the money is spent is another thing altogether. No FA board has achieved this volume of successes before us.
IS IT TRUE THAT YOUR BOARD HAD IN EXCESS OF N7.85BILLION INCOME FROM INTERNALLY GENERATED FUNDS, FIFA AND FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?
By now I hope the EFCC would have gone deep enough into the matter. I hope they will be able to make public their findings. They will know the individual involvement as it concerns money. I was just a board member. I do not have approval limits or powers. Mine is to attend meetings and contribute my quota and return to my state. I don’t know who much was generated.
I also know that a lot of monies came into the coffers of the NFF during our tenure. Our board participated in all FIFA, CAF and WAFU competitions. These will require so much money to prosecute. I am not defending anybody but I also do know that most of the things that was done during our time did not pass or get approval of the board. The records are there to show.
For instance, when we returned from the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, the President told us there was no money to pay the legitimate allowances of board members. We believed him. Only for the EFCC to freeze our account and getting to know how much was there. It baffled us.
DO YOU HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE EFCC GETTING TO THE ROOT OF THE INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF THE FRAUD DURING YOUR BOARD’S TENURE?
The EFCC should always find a way to conclude not just investigation but also prosecution of financial crimes committed, not just in football but everywhere. That is the only way we can grow as a nation.
I have problems with the last board. We are all aware of the fact that decree 101 is an existing law. It is on the strength of that the National Assembly appropriates funds for the NFF.
Our board lied to FIFA that decree 101 has been repealed. This is not true. This is fraud. For government to have put money in the NFF, tax payers’ money, she has a right to ask how the monies are spent. That does not amount to government interference. This is a part of the primary duty of good governance.