The President of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Amaju Pinnick, and four other bigwigs at the nation’s football house, again, failed to appear before the Abuja High Court, Tuesday, over alleged misappropriation and embezzlement of $8.4 million and N4 billion respectively meant for football development in the country.
When the case came up at the Federal High Court 8, Central Area District, Abuja, the accused persons-the NFF president, Amaju Pinnick, 1st vice-president, Seyi Akinwunmi, 2nd vice-president, Shehu Dikko, NFF Board member, Ahmed Yusuf Fresh, and secretary general, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, all failed to appear for the arraignment.
The presiding judge, Justice Ifeoma Ojukwu, however, granted the prayers of the defence counsel to serve the accused persons the letter of arraignment via substituted means.
Speaking to journalists after the court session, which lasted less than an hour, the lead counsel to the Special Presidential Investigative Panel for Recovery of Public Property SPIP, Dr. Celsus Ukpong, said that the court had granted them the right to serve the accused by substituted means adding that with such legal backing procured, the accused persons will unfailing appear on July 1, 2019, for arraignment.
“The case came up for arraignment and plea, but the defendants were not in court because we did not serve them,” he said. “They were evading service, so we applied to the court to give us substituted service. That is the legal backing to serve them through substituted means.
“It was after the plea was granted that the court adjourned till July for arraignment. On July 1st, they must be arraigned.”
The counsel debunked the rumour that the SPIP does not have statutory right to prosecute or arrest the accused persons.
“The fact that the office of the Anthony General and Minister of Justice requested that the case documents be transferred to him will not stop judgement. We are working in synergy.”
A member of the SPIP legal team, Barr. Fayaien Jigha, explained what it means to serve someone via substituted means.
Jigha’s words: “To serve by substituted means is to serve the accused the notice of arraignment either at his office, residence or the gate. It can be by pasting it on the gate or the wall or even given it to the security where there is such.
“The law provides for personal service and nobody can receive it on his behalf but where the accused evades the service, then, the counsel would apply for substituted means.
“So, to serve by substituted means can also be through the newspaper, notice board or the gate of the residence or office of the accused. But in this case, the counsel was granted the leave to serve them through substituted means at their office address.
“The prayer before the court today was to serve them in their office because they occupy national offices. They are to appear on July 1. They cannot take any excuse because before you can take any excuse, you must appear before the court to plead for it.”
The Federal Government of Nigeria, through Special Presidential Investigative Panel for Recovery of Public Property, had dragged the five NFF executives to the Federal High Court, Abuja, over alleged misappropriation of N4 billion meant for development of football.
On May 7, 2019, the Federal Government charged Amaju and the other four officials with alleged misappropriation of $8.4 million belonging to the football body.
In the 17-count charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/93/2019, filed before the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday, May 7, the money was said to have been paid by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) to the NFF as appearance fees in the group state of the Russia 2018 World Cup.
The defendants were also accused of “moving dishonestly and intentionally the sum of about N4bn” belonging to the NFF without the consent of the NFF.
The five top officials are also accused of failing and neglecting to declare their assets.
The SPIP is headed by Okoi Obono-Obla.