By Uzor Odigbo
President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Chief Tonobok Okowa, has described as ‘laughable’ a petition by some of the board members, Tafida Gadzama, Rosa Collins, and three others calling on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), to do a forensic examination of the report of the AFN Audit Committee, which they claimed uncovered misappropriation of funds and serial violations of Nigeria’s Public Sector Financial Regulation Laws.
The AFN held its Board meeting on January 6, 2024, where some issues affecting the federation, including the Audit Committee Reports were looked into. At that meeting, which was attended by nine members, the AFN Board dissolved its committees after serving two years.
A press statement signed by AFN stated that the Board also refused to uphold a particular recommendation of the Audit committee, which tagged the various funds loaned to the federation by the President, Okowa, as ‘donations.’ The Board unanimously agreed that Chief Okowa should be refunded his money, as well as all other members who loaned out monies to the Federation.
The AFN Board also deliberated on the Audit Committee recommendation that the Secretary General, Rita Mosindi, be removed, saying that it does not have the power to remove the SG as it did not appoint her.
Reacting to the petition, Chief Okowa stated that their decision to petition the EFCC and ICPC asking them to do a forensic examination of the Audit Committee was mischievous and a ploy to misguide a few in believing their selfish agenda against the federation.
“I think these people are just looking for a way to call us (AFN) bad names before the general public. In the first place, as the AFN President, I have the power to approve money for the federation to execute its various programme of activities. Early last year, the AFN was finding it difficult to raise money to organize its competitions.
“This same Gadzama led two other board members to my house in Abuja, where he pleaded that I should loan the AFN money to stage the various legs of the Golden League and some other events, and that I would get my money back as soon as funds are available.
“Before they left my house, I promised that I would see what I can do in that regard. But I also pleaded with Gadzama and the other board members to also find a way to assist the federation with funds. Gadzama said he had no money at that moment and that I should look for a way to bail out the AFN.
“Then, the country was preparing for the general election, and as the AFN President, I thought of the shame that would come up if we failed to hold the various Golden Leagues to prepare the athletes for the various international competitions for last year.
“By that, our Marketing Committee was already working on a sponsorship deal with a bank.
“I had to source for money for the Golden Leagues held in Kaduna, Abuja, Benin City and Uyo as well as some other events. So, when money was available, the secretariat refunded some of my money.
Not all the money had been paid back to me till this moment. So, where have I done wrong?
“Gadzama, Rosa Collins and co have turned around to say that the money I loaned to the AFN to organize those competitions were ‘donations’. The Board has looked at it and decided that what they are saying is wrong,” Okowa stated.
Also speaking on the petition by Gadzama and Collins to the two anti-corruption agencies, another AFN board member said that all those involved in the fight were waging a vindictive war because of the refusal of Okowa and the secretariat to yield to their request for some thousands of US dollars each as allowance for their participation in the 2022 African Championships held in Mauritius.
“In the first place, Nigeria’s participation at the 2022 African Championships in Mauritius was never captured in our sponsorship with Premium Trust Bank. Tafida Gadzama, and Dare Esan, Victor Okorie have demanded for payment of some thousands of US dollars each as allowances for their trip to Mauritius but Okowa and the secretariat said they can’t use sponsorship money tied to the Golden Leagues and other competitions to pay for another event.
“That was the genesis of the problem. They think they can fool the EFCC, ICPC and other Nigerians.
“These are same people with so many scandals hanging on their neck. We may have to go rough soon because these people are taking everyone of us for granted. Let’s wait and see what happens.
“The President has the power to approve money to execute AFN programmes, and that was exactly what Chief Okowa did.
“These people don’t want any progress for the AFN, and the entire country can’t watch them destroy the future of our athletes. We have the Africa Games, World Indoor and the Olympic Games lined up for this year, yet these people don’t want us to plan ahead. It has to stop,” the angry Board member said.