Basketball

Group Urges Presidency to probe embezzlement of $2.2m Kwese deal

Published

4 years ago

December 5, 2021

Coming quickly on the heels of the news published online which denied the alleged embezzlement of the $2.2m dollars paid to former NBBF president Tijani Umar, by Econet for the botched Kwese Nigeria Male Basketball League, a group of journalists, stakeholders and concerned sports enthusiasts under the aegis of Friends of Nigeria Sports (FNS), in a press release have reacted to what it termed miscalculated attempt to deny and mislead the public.

In the release countering the refutal of alleged embezzlement of the Kwese $2.2 m dollars, Asiwaju Akeem Busari, spokesperson for FNS, demanded that President Muhammadu Buhari launch a full blown investigation into the matter, in line with the government’s avowed zero-tolerance for corruption.

“Earlier this week a denial was published online by some foot soldiers of Tijani Umar, describing the allegation of embezzlement of the Kwese funds as fake news. We’re not surprised. That was a desperate attempt to deny an obvious crime against basketball and the people of Nigeria,” Busari remarked.

“As genuinely concerned Nigerians, we want Nigerians and particularly, the presidency to ask these pertinent questions from Tijani Umar and his past NBBF board, which NBBF account was the Kwese money paid into?

“Tijani Umar should explain why he did not hand over the funds to the new board that succeeded him? We understand that if the money was paid into a private account, it is crime with jail term consequences.

” If not ,then he should explain why did he not return the money to Kwesse since not up to half of the Kwese league was played before they took the case to court that stopped the new board from holding the league for over 3 years.

“We demand that he also explain why did they go for the subsequent installments when they knew that they were not the legitimate board. Yet, they failed to declear the amounts to the new board. We understand too, that they still did not pay the money into any of the accounts operated by NBBF for transparency and this is blatant case of fraud,” he added.

Asiwaju Busari, recalled how Tijani Umar boasted on a national television that he refused to pay the Kwesse money into the NBBF account to prevent former sports minister Dalung and the ministry officials from calling for the money to be shared.

FNS emphatically demanded that Nigerians and the government should ask Tijani Umar to provide documents as it concerns the whereabout of these huge funds collected on behalf of NBBF and was never declared or retired.

“Until he respond to these demands publicly, Tijani Umar, who is the State House Permanently Secretary, cannot be exonerated from this financial scandal and crime.

“The crimes are enough to attract immediate dismissal from service and jail term. We also knew that Tijani Umar is a federal civil servant who has stayed beyond stipulated service years and should have retired long time ago,” he concluded.
[2:57 PM, 12/5/2021] Patrick Ngowgwu: Gwagwalada Football Coaches Reward Stakeholders… NLO, NNL also

The Gwagwalada Football Coaches Council at the weekend held its maiden award night to among other things, recognized those who have contributed positively to the development of football in the Area Council.

Welcoming the visitors to the event, the Leader of Gwagwalada Football Coaches Council Barrister Justice Ayodele said the event becomes imperative considering the impact the various individuals have made in the development of the game at the council. He said that the efforts of these individuals have gone a long way to curb various societal vices in the locality. He appreciated them and implored them not to relent in supporting the youths in attaining their desired heights in the game of football.

Speaking in the same vein, the Chairman of Gwagwalada Football Council Ibrahim Bako, said the award ceremony came at a very auspicious time, that Gwagwalada needed to appreciate the efforts of the the leaders past. He commended the leadership of the Coaches Council for coming up with the idea of rewarding those that have worked tirelessly in putting Gwagwalada in a positive picture of Nigeria Football.

Among the awardees who were present were the Patron of Gwagwalada Football Coaches, Justice Mwanda Balami, who was also the Chairman of the occasion, Barrister Pelumi Olajengbesi, Barrister Ahmed Jalingo, Coach Godwin Bamigboye, Prince Lugard Oyewole, Coach Daniel Oromade who was the first Chairman of FCT Football Coaches, Patrick Ngwaogu who was the first Leader of Gwagwalada Coaches, Thompson Ojukwu, the first Secretary of Gwagwalada Football Coaches Council, Patrick Bassey, the first Gwagwalada player to play up to the national level, and now an U. 15 National team Coach among others.

Special awards were given to Nigeria National League and Nationwide League One.

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Basketball

RMAFC Reaffirms Commitment To Boost Revenue Generation From Mining Sector

Published

3 weeks ago

October 16, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

In line with its commitment to bridging the gap in the remittance of revenue generated from the mining sector into the Federation Account, the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission organised a sensitization workshop on the new template for data rendition in Enugu for the South East Zone on Thursday 16th October, 2025.

Speaking at the occasion, Chairman of the Commission Dr. Mohammed Bello Shehu reaffirmed the commitment of RMAFC to bridging the gap in the data remittance of revenue generated from the sector into the Federation Account.

“It has been established that despite the extent of activities going on in the Country’s mining sector, it contributes only a negligible amount to the Federation Account, largely due to the lack of proper and effective monitoring of mining activities. Hence, it is the intention of the RMAFC to work assiduously in order to ensure that all revenues due to the Federation Account from the mining sector are promptly remitted into the Federation’s distribution pool account as at when due.” He said.

The Chairman who was represented by the Federal Commissioner representing the Federal Capital Territory in the Commission, Ambassador Ayuba Jacob Ngbako stated that the new data rendition templates were designed to capture and manage relevant data with regards to specific measurement of quantity of minerals produced, producing companies and their locations, particular licenses, fees and permits paid by mining companies. According to him, if the data is properly managed and utilized, it will go a long way in ensuring that mining operations and revenues therefrom are effectively tracked and accounted for.

Dr. Shehu emphasized the imperativeness of the new data rendition template given the current economic difficulties the country is going through. He added that the perpetual over dependence on hydrocarbon sources of revenue, which is often plagued by the vagaries of the international oil market in addition to other reasons such as the problems of pipeline vandalism and oil theft underscores the determination of the President Bola Tinubu led administration to harness revenue potentials from other sectors of the country’s economy such as the solid minerals, agriculture, manufacturing and the blue economy.

In his goodwill message, the Executive Governor of Enugu State His Excellency Governor Peter Mbah, who was represented at the occasion by the Honourable Commissioner of Energy and Mineral resources of the state, Honourable Franklin Ogbonna described the new template as a significant step towards building a reliable framework for revenue monitoring and proper resource allocation framework. He added that accurate data is the foundation of sound policy formulation and effective revenue management. ” It enables both the Federal and State Governments to assess real production figures, close leakages, and ensure that due revenues are remitted for the benefit of all Nigerians.” He said.

The governor further said that the initiative aligns perfectly with the drive to reposition the solid minerals sector as a key contributor to the internally generated revenue and economic diversification agenda of the state.

In his welcome address, the Federal Commissioner representing Enugu State in the Commission, Honourable Ozo Obodougo Obumneme stated that the exercise was primarily aimed at ensuring the existence of a platform for independent data source for the Commission which will be free of summation errors and could be used for comparison as advanced information for attribution purposes.

The Commissioner for Solid Minerals in Ebonyi State, Honourable Onyia Emmanuel, Honourable Commissioner of Petroleum and Mineral Resources in Abia State, Prof Joel Ogbonna, Honourable Commissioner for Local Government in Anambra State, Honourable Tony Nwabuno and the Permanent Secratary Ministry of Industry, Mines and Minerals in Imo State, Mrs Obialor Angela all praised the initiative in their goodwill messages.

The sensitisation exercise scheduled to be held in the six geopolitical zones of the country, which commenced on the 7th of October 2025 in Abuja, was followed by the one organised in Asaba Delta State for the South – South region on the 13th of October, 2025.

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