The former president of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi, has expressed displeasure over what he termed cold reactions of Nigerians towards his impeachment and protracted 7-year-trial by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over alleged breach of due process.
Abdullahi stressed that he was innocent of the allegations.
The embattled NFF former president argued that he served Nigeria meritoriously through the Federation, adding that his illegal impeachment was not unconnected with the N2.8 billion he left in the purse of the Glass House at the end of his tenure.
He claimed that those who were interested in looting the huge sum orchestrated his impeachment and trial.
Addressing journalists on Wednesday in Osogbo on a stakeholders’ platform of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Osun State chapter, the former NFF boss noted that he was no longer interested in returning as NFF president even if Nigerians asked him to do so, adding, “I am not a happy man because some people stopped me from rendering my services to this nation.”
Abdulllahi, who was impeached in 2010, is being prosecuted by the EFCC alongside Amanze Uchegbulam, Bolaji Ojo-Oba and Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi, for offences bearing on conspiracy and breach of due process in contravention of the public procurement act, over purchase of two buses.
The former NFF top officials were accused by the EFCC to have breached due process in the purchase of two Marcopolo buses at the rate of N900million, in a 10-count charge, when they were first arraigned in October 2010.
But Abdullahi claimed that he was framed up by a powerful individual in NFF, insisting that Nigerians did not intervene or try to know what was actually responsible for his ordeal.
Asked to explain what really led to his impeachment, Abdullahi said, “This case is still in court and I am not to do things that would result to contempt of court. Nigerians should know what went wrong. Seven years, the case is still in court. I wrote an open letter to President Goodluck Jonathan about two years now and I stated it in that letter that I have done nothing.
“They knew I had about N2.8 billion in the NFF account before I was unlawfully impeached and this is part of the things that led to my ordeal. The government of Jonathan will come to the court and testify at the appropriate time. In December 2010, NFF withdrew their impeachment and it is unfortunate that FIFA succumbed to the illegality of my impeachment. I took them to CAF. Hayatu intervened and they vacated the impeachment, but I was not asked to return to my position.
“I didn’t do anything. I don’t know why I am being punished this way. I thought Nigerians would have asked the EFCC why my case is still pending in court for about seven years now. The people who destroyed the system are still there and there is only one person, one man that masterminded my removal. So, I have been battling bitterness but I remain patient.
“Nigerians denied themselves getting my services. I used my personal money to service NFF but all the assets that I left have been reduced. As Sani Lulu, it will be difficult for me to accept NFF. NFF will be the last on my list if I am to choose.”
