Abdulfattah Olajide
17 November 2009
Sequel to several allegations of fraud against the Local Organising Committee (LOC) which organized the just-concluded FIFA U-17 World Cup hosted by Nigeria, the Federal Government yesterday vowed to probe the accounts of the LOC and bring to book any of its officials found culpable.
Vice President Goodluck Jonathan announced the measure while fielding questions from reporters at the State House in Abuja. He said the government would within this week direct external auditors and relevant anti-corruption agencies to probe the accounts of the LOC.
"We have heard stories of mismanagement of funds and that people are sharing the vehicles and other items that were used for the tournament. Within this week, we are going to meet with the relevant agencies and they will make sure that how the LOC spent the money is made known to the public. Professional auditors will be invited to look into the books", he said.
"If there are things that they have bought and used like vehicles, computers and others, we will know the numbers and we will sell them to Nigerians at reduced rates. If there is mismanagement of funds and any sharing of cars and computers used for the tournament as alleged, the LOC must account for them. Anybody that mismanages government funds, definitely, the law will catch up with him or her. We are going to ensure that," Jonathan also said.
The vice president, who is the Chairman, Presidential Steering Committee of the tournament, said "From the history of this country, there is nothing you do that will not have controversies. We have had CHOGM, we have had Commonwealth Games; at the end of any major event, there must always be accusations and counter-accusations of mismanagement of funds. We have read different things from the newspapers and we have discussed with Mr. President that we will make everything transparent and let every Nigerian know what happened. The present administration believes in transparency and the rule of law. What we have agreed is that at the end of the tournament, all the expenditure will be audited for the people to see." The vice president also assured contractors who had genuine claims and had yet to be paid, that they would get paid in due course.
Meanwhile, Jonathan has congratulated the Golden Eaglets for coming second in the tournament. He also lauded Nigerians for supporting the players. "Like many other Nigerians, even me, I never expected us to get to the final. Frankly speaking, we are all happy with the level these boys have taken us. We have to use this special opportunity to thank Nigerians for the massive support they gave to the Eaglets", he said.
On 2010 World Cup in South Africa, the vice president said the government was happy that the Super Eagles qualified for the tournament. "For the World Cup to be hosted by an African country for the first time without Nigeria would have been like a basket of sour grapes. We are quite happy that the Super Eagles will go there, hoisting Nigerian flag," he said.
He said the government would work with the National Sports Commission and the NFA to make sure that the Super Eagles prepare very well for the tournament.
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