The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have opened investigations into the management of a N12 billion Federal Government intervention fund released to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
The money was approved by President Bola Tinubu in 2024 to settle outstanding wages, allowances and bonuses owed to members of Nigeria’s national football teams and their coaches.
A source familiar with the investigation said some officials connected to the fund had been invited by the anti-graft agencies and had already made statements. The source added that the officials were currently on administrative bail while investigations continue.
The development was also confirmed in an August 18, 2026 letter signed by Onoja Joshua, on behalf of the NFF General Secretary, in response to a Freedom of Information request from Cromwell & Okeke.
The request, dated August 7 and received by the NFF on August 11, sought financial records and documents showing how the N12 billion intervention fund was utilised.
However, the NFF declined to release the requested documents, explaining that the records are currently with the EFCC and ICPC as part of their investigations.
The Federal Government had announced the approval of the N12 billion payment in January 2024, shortly before the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire.
According to a statement from President Tinubu’s Media Centre at the time, the funds were intended to clear up to 15 months of outstanding salaries owed to coaches of the senior national team, as well as allowances and other payments due to the senior men’s, women’s and U-20 national teams.
Concerns over unpaid entitlements have persisted. In November 2025, the Super Eagles reportedly boycotted a training session in Rabat, Morocco, ahead of their 2026 World Cup play-off against Gabon over unpaid allowances dating back to 2019.
In April 2026, reports also emerged that members of the 2023 and 2025 Flying Eagles teams were claiming that the NFF owed them about N1.5 billion in qualification bonuses and camp allowances.
The latest investigation comes amid increasing scrutiny of the administration of Nigerian football, following the Super Falcons’ failure to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the Super Eagles’ failure to secure qualification for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, who was elected in September 2022, is seeking another term at the federation’s planned September 27 elective congress.
His administration has faced growing criticism, while there have also been claims that the National Sports Commission is considering moves to halt the election and establish a normalisation committee to oversee Nigerian football.
The NFF board has denied those claims.
As of the time of filing the report, the spokespersons for the EFCC and ICPC, Dele Oyewale and John Odey, respectively, could not be reached for comments.
