The Senate is to reopen a comprehensive investigation into the alleged embezzlement of $8 million 2010 World Cup qualification grant received by the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation.
Also, the Senate is equally in the next couple of days to set machineries in motion towards finding a lasting solution to the myriad of problems militating against Nigeria football and sports in general.
A member of the Senate Committee on sports, Senator Ayo Ademola Adeseun, made this known in Ibadan on Saturday.
Adeseun, representing Oyo Central Senatorial District, hinted further that the Senate, having identified corruption as the bane of sports development in the country, is prepared to do everything humanly possible to curb the menace.
Adeseun said it was obvious that billions of naira had been embezzled by the administrators of the game.
He said: “Last week, a motion was moved on the floor of the Senate on the corruption in Nigeria Football and sports in general.
“In the next couple of days, the Senate Committee on Sports will begin a comprehensive probe into corruption in our sports.
“The former Chairman of Senate Committee on Sports, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, raised the issue of unaccounted $8 million grant from FIFA.
“This, we will investigate again.
“Memoranda will be taken from members of the public.
“Several billions of naira meant for sports development have been tucked in private pockets.”
Adeseun lamented that the findings of the former Senate Committee on sports, submitted to the Presidency, was swept under the carpet, adding: “It is sad that the findings and recommendations of the former Senate on corruption in Nigeria sports was swept under the carpet.
“But this time around, with the support of the media and other stakeholders, it will not be so.”