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 the payment of players’ wages, allowances and bonuses.
News Point Nigeria reports that the fund was approved by President Bola Tinubu in 2024 to clear outstanding payments owed to Nigeria’s national teams, including the Super Eagles and other senior and youth sides.
A top source familiar with the matter confirmed to our correspondent on Thursday that some officials linked to the matter had already been invited by investigators and had provided statements, with the probe still ongoing.
“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 disclosure was also contained in a letter signed by Onoja Joshua, Esq., on behalf of the General Secretary of the NFF, in response to a request for the disclosure of financial records and utilisation logs relating to the N12 billion intervention fund.
The letter, dated August 18, 2026, was addressed to the Principal Partner of Cromwell & Okeke, following correspondence dated August 7, 2026, which was received by the NFF on August 11.
A copy of the NFF’s response was published by this newspaper on Thursday.
According to the report, the request was made under the Freedom of Information Act and sought access to financial records and other documents concerning the N12 billion Federal Government intervention fund reportedly released to the NFF for the payment of players’ wages and bonuses.
However, the NFF declined to release the requested records, citing the ongoing investigations 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 N12 billion intervention was approved in January 2024, ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, following reports that President Tinubu had authorised the payment of outstanding funds owed by the Federal Government to the Super Eagles and other national sporting teams.
According to a statement issued at the time on the X handle of Tinubu’s Media Centre, the payment covered 15 months of outstanding salaries owed to the senior national team’s coaches, as well as allowances and other payments due to the senior men’s, women’s and U-20 national teams.
“President @officialABAT has approved the payment of N12bn outstanding backlog for Nigeria’s National teams of various sports, which includes Super Eagles and others,” the statement read.
“The payment entails the clearing of the senior national team coaches’ salaries running up to 15 months, payments of allowances and promises due to the senior national teams, women’s teams, and U-20 national team.”
Despite the intervention, issues surrounding unpaid allowances and bonuses have continued to trail Nigerian football.
In November 2025, the Super Eagles boycotted training in Rabat, Morocco, ahead of a crucial 2026 World Cup play-off against Gabon, citing outstanding allowances dating back to 2019 for achievements including reaching the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and qualifying for the World Cup play-offs.
Similarly, in April 2026, this newspaper reported that some members of the 2023 and 2025 sets of Nigeria’s men’s U-20 national team, the Flying Eagles, lamented that the NFF owed them N1.5 billion.
The players said the alleged debt covered qualification bonuses for participating in six major tournaments within the period, as well as pre-tournament camp allowances covering about 65 days.
The latest investigation comes amid persistent public concerns over the administration of Nigerian football and the recent failure of the Super Falcons to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, just as the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup held in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The NFF President, Ibrahim Gusau, who was elected at the federation’s elective congress in Benin City in September 2022, is seeking a second term in office at the planned September 27 elective congress amid growing criticism of his administration.
Although the NFF board has denied it, there are also claims that the National Sports Commission has made moves to stop the elections and install a normalisation committee that would take charge of Nigerian football.
As of the time of filing this report, the spokespersons for the ICPC and EFCC, John Odey and Dele Oyewale, could not be reached for comments on the status and scope of the investigations.