SCANDAL: Nigerian Athletics Federation President Okowa, EFCC, Others Dragged To Court Over N70million Sports Sponsorship Fraud




According to the Statement of Claim, the plaintiff is a registered trustee with the mandate to protect the interests and welfare of sportsmen and women in Nigeria.

A non-governmental organisation, the Athletics and Other Sports Development Initiative, has dragged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), and key sports officials before the Federal High Court in Abuja, demanding accountability over an alleged N70million sponsorship scandal.

The suit, filed under Suit No: FHC/AR/CS/433/2005, lists the EFCC, AFN, its President Tonobok Ojuru Okowa, former Secretary General Rita Mosindi, and Bukola Olapade, current Director General of the National Sports Commission, as defendants.

Tonobok Okowa is former Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa’s brother.

According to the Statement of Claim, the plaintiff is a registered trustee with the mandate to protect the interests and welfare of sportsmen and women in Nigeria.

It alleged that a sponsorship deal worth N70million, disbursed in 2023 by Premium Trust Bank to the AFN, was mismanaged, with no proper accountability by the key officers involved.

The deal was allegedly facilitated through a tripartite agreement involving Premium Trust Bank (sponsor), Nilayo Sports Management Ltd. (broker), and the AFN (beneficiary).

Olapade, the 5th defendant, was the Managing Director of Nilayo Sports at the time.

The plaintiff states that AFN’s Audit Committee, empowered by Article 14.3.3 of its Constitution, investigated the disbursement and found major financial irregularities.

According to the report dated October 31, 2023, a staggering N40 million was transferred into the personal account of Tonobok Okowa, the 3rd defendant, without justification.

Furthermore, the committee’s findings reportedly showed that Rita Mosindi, the former Secretary General, failed to present any documentation — such as written approvals, vouchers, or cheques — to explain how the remaining N30 million was spent.

The Audit Committee recommended that both officials refund the money. However, over five months later, the plaintiff claims the AFN failed to take any action to enforce the recommendations.

On April 15, 2024, the plaintiff petitioned the EFCC to investigate the alleged embezzlement. Although the commission reportedly invited all key parties—Premium Trust Bank, Okowa, Mosindi, and Olapade—for questioning, only the bank honored the invitation.

The other individuals allegedly ignored the EFCC’s summons.

“Despite this blatant disregard, the EFCC shockingly took no further action to compel attendance or advance the investigation,” the plaintiff states.

The suit is now seeking several declarative and mandatory orders from the court, including:

  • A DECLARATION that pursuant to Section 6(b) delta(h) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004, the 1st Defendant has a mandatory duty to investigate all reported cases of economic and financial crimes.
  • A DECLARATION that the 1st Defendant’s failure to conduct and conclude investigations on the Plaintiff’s Petition dated 15th April, 2025, is a dereliction of the 1st Defendant’s statutory duty.
  • AN ORDER compelling the 1st Defendant to commence and conclude investigations on the Plaintiff’s Petition dated 15th April, 2025.
  • AN ORDER compelling the 2nd Defendant to assist the 1st Defendant in the investigation of the Plaintiff’s Petition dated 15th April, 2025.
  • AN ORDER instructing the 2nd Defendant to suspend the 3rd and 4th Defendants from their offices during the period of the investigations.
  • AN ORDER compelling the 5th Defendant to step aside as the Director General of the National Sports Commission during the period of the investigations and until such time the 1st Defendant concludes its investigations on the Plaintiff’s Petition dated 15th April, 2025.

The group argues that its actions are in line with its core mission: “to initiate actions in public interest and the welfare of sports men and women in Nigeria.”

“As long as there is no transparency and accountability, the dream of building a vibrant sports sector in Nigeria will remain elusive,” the group said.



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