Review of the Athletics Fraud of Nigeria (AFN) in four years

*Why Sports federation guideline is skewed to favour anointed candidates

With the release of the election guidelines by the National Sports Commission (NSC), some qualification issues were noted specially designed to suit some of the outgoing Presidents of the failed Sports Federations to enjoy a smooth return to office. As a result, I have decided to do an expose of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) to show how and why the guideline is ‘trickish’, slippery and against our national interest.

Double budgetary overhead: AFN had continually perpetrated fraud against the Federal Government of Nigeria for receiving monies from NSC for all World Championships for Youth, Junior and Senior level competitions as well as salary for its Secretary General whereas, the International Amateur Athletics Association (IAAF) paid for those engagements.

The IAAF bears the burden of maintaining a Secretary General in all her member federations including Nigeria. Why does the NSC also pays the same individual another salary? This trend has been on for decades. (See: http://www.iaaf.org/mm/Document/imported/9572.pdf)

IAAF provides the AFN funding to international competition it organises every year. Those funds covered each athlete’s preparation, travel and accommodation to every competition for every level of athlete (youth, junior and senior) in any country.

AFN simultaneously collected the same amount from NSC for purposes other than intended. Over the past four years the AFN received over N50Million from the NSC for competitions fully sponsored by the IAAF.

Since AFN is an affiliate of IAAF, that organization directly funds its secretarial needs annually (every federation) to the tune of $10,000 per year. This means in the last four years, she got $40,000.

The NSC also paid salaries and allowances to the Secretary General, a civil servant, appointed in that capacity.

The Ghanaian Athletics Secretary General recently faced criminal charges and prosecution, she was, in addition, removed from office for not disclosing such funds.

CROSS RIVERS STATE GOVERNMENT: The Cross Rivers State government sponsors the national Athletics trials. The Cross Rivers State (CRS) government signed a contract to fund the trials for N250 Million amounting to N50million per year. Meanwhile, the state government provides other facilities such as accommodation and stadium.

Furthermore, Obudu marathon is also being funded by the Cross River State government with direct affiliation fees to the AFN reportedly in excess of N11million.

OGUN STATE GOVERNMENT: The Ogun State government gave the AFN N7million in 2010 as hosting rights. This information is based on news reports originating from the AFN which has not been denied since the publications went to town meaning it remains the whole truth.

Samsung: AFN published statements in newspapers indicated that it received contractual funding of N12.6million (N4.2million per year) from this company.

SINOPEC (Oil Co.): AFN announced to the media that she received N75million from this oil company for the past three years. (See AFN Signs N25 Million Sponsorship Deal With SINOPEC, Daily Champion 17 June 2011).

MOBIL: We have been made to understand and believe the exact amount spent by this company is a mystery. The published report by Mobil noted that it funded AFN for N26million in 2009.

DAAR COMMUNICATION PLC: This company sponsored the Ladi Lawal Championship in 2009 for an estimated N10million. Ladi Lawal was the former Group Managing Director of the big media organization.

Saipem Contracting Nigeria Limited: How much this company sponsored some of the AFN Golden leagues is kept a secret. Newspaper publications on their activities with the AFN never had or bore any figure. The final assumption is that the AFN will not have packaged the championships in their name for free.

Desicon Limited: The situation in respect to Saipem applies here too. This company sponsored some of the AFN Golden league series.

PASTOR OLUKOYA: Unconfirmed figures gotten showed that the AFN received about N20million for over two years for this championship.

NKOYO IBORI: The actual figure received for 2009 and 2010 edition for the junior athletics competition is only good for speculation.

GLO MARATHON: The 2009 edition was funded by Globacom to the tune of N11million which was paid into AFN’s bank accounts.

ATHLETES REGISTRATION AND AFFILIATION FEES: How much was collected from this fat account remains a conjecture. If to be conservatively low and be very outwardly bland, we assume that the AFN may have collected in four years about N12Million in affiliation and athletes registration fees.

NIKE: AFN also received athletics wears and shoes for free from NIKE. If the tradition remains, there are possible chances that the NSC would have paid for the same kits as if they were acquired in the open market. This conclusion is reached in view of the fact that the IAAF pays for the salaries of the Secretary General while the NSC still pays for the same.

Confederation of African Athletics (CAA): AFN got about N60 Million reimbursements for participation from CAA championships. Can the NSC say it clearly that they did not or never paid for Nigeria’s participation in the last four years.

National Sports Commission

The AFN received about N670 Million from the NSC in the past three years for all its activities except for the Olympics but including Secretarial fees. Mr. Ogba in fact made reference to his spending of N500 Million (See: AFN/GEN/AFF/431/VOL.1/137 17 January 2011) despite also noting that AFN needed just N315 Million for 2012 (See: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/11/afn-demands-n315m-for-2012-activities/)

Therefore, given all the above, AFN’s total revenue between 2009 and 2012 exceeds N1.3 Billion even without 2012 London Olympics allocation.