The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) are investigating the utilisation of the N12 billion Federal Government intervention fund released to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to settle outstanding players’ wages, bonuses and other national-team obligations.
The Independent Mirror reports that the development was disclosed by the NFF in a letter dated August 18, 2026, in response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request seeking financial records and utilisation documents relating to the intervention fund.
The NFF’s response was addressed to the Principal Partner of Cromwell & Okeke, following correspondence dated August 7, 2026, which the federation said it received on August 11.
The request, made under the Freedom of Information Act, sought financial records and other documents detailing how the N12 billion fund was utilised.
However, the federation declined to release the requested records, citing ongoing investigations by the EFCC and ICPC.
In the letter, referenced NFF/LEG/10/1/879 and signed by Onoja Joshua on behalf of the NFF General Secretary, the federation said it could not release the documents because the matter was already under investigation by the two anti-corruption agencies.
The investigation comes amid mounting scrutiny of the administration and financing of Nigerian football, following the poor performances of the national teams and growing calls for reforms within the NFF.
N12bn NFF Intervention Fund
The N12 billion intervention was approved by President Bola Tinubu in January 2024 to clear outstanding obligations owed to Nigeria’s national teams.
According to a statement posted on Tinubu’s Media Centre’s X handle at the time, the payment covered 15 months of outstanding salaries owed to senior national-team 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.”
Senate Laments State of Nigerian Football
The investigation comes amid renewed scrutiny of the administration and financing of Nigerian football.
The Senate Committee on Sports on Wednesday expressed dismay over the dismal performance of Nigeria’s football teams in recent times, citing the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the Super Falcons’ non-qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
The committee consequently held an emergency meeting with the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, and the President of the NFF, Ibrahim Musa Gusau.
The meeting was presided over by the committee chairman, Senator Abdul Ningi.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Ningi said it was convened at the prompting of the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
“I have the authority of the Senate President on this very important meeting, who recently asked me, ‘Senator Ningi, what is happening in sports, what is happening in football?’”
Outstanding Payments
The probe also comes against the backdrop of previous complaints by Nigerian national teams over unpaid allowances and bonuses.
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.
In April 2026, it was reported that some members of the 2023 and 2025 sets of Nigeria’s men’s U-20 team, the Flying Eagles, also complained that the NFF owed them N1.5 billion.
The reported debt covered qualification bonuses for participation in six major tournaments during the period, as well as pre-tournament camp allowances for about 65 days.
The latest probe comes after the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the Super Falcons failed to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, ending Nigeria’s record of appearing at every edition of the women’s tournament since its inception in 1991.
NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, who was elected at the federation’s elective congress in Benin City in September 2022, is seeking a second term at the planned September 27 elective congress amid growing criticism of his administration.
Efforts to reach NFF Media communication department were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
