The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) held the embattled caretaker committee chairman of the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF), Ahmed Musa Kida for over three hours in their headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday. Core Reporters report.
Core Reporters report that Kida who has been accused of embezzling over two billion naira meant to clear the backlog of debts owed to the female basketball players (D’Tigress) has not only to sit comfortably at the driving seat of the NBBF but has also perfected plans to return as the president on October 30, 2021 election in Benin.
However in a letter dated October 7, 2021, titled: “Re: Notice of Investigation/Request For Documents, which was signed by Ekanem Benedict on behalf of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of youth and sports development requested that the NBBF furnish its with documents because ICPC wanted to investigate the activities of the federation date back 2017.
The letter reads in part, “I am directed to inform you that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is requesting for documents to enable it carry out investigation on your Federation from January 2017 till date.
“I am further directed to request you to provide all the record of sponsorship agreement/documents you entered into by your Federation from January 2017 till date. You are also directed to forward the above-mentioned documents to the FEAD Department of the Ministry before the close of work on Friday for onward transmission to ICPC.”
Recalled that we have reported earlier that there was allegation that the federal government had released two billion naira to the NBBF to cleared the backlog of debts owed to the D’Tigress.
In that report, we reported that the D’Tigress has asked Minister Sunday Dare to explain what happened to the alleged N2bn the Federal Government released to the ministry to settle the backlog of debts they owe to the basketball federation from pasts competitions since 2017.
However, the players from an informed source said, they asked Dare to explain to the whole Nigerians and their fans, why N73,118 (36, 000, 000) debts could not be cleared.
The message to Dare, reads, ”Please can you address the team and their fans how N73,118 (36, 000, 000) debts could not be fulfilled since the 2018 world cup about 1.6bn later. Why every one of you Ogas are doing photo ups and headlines with D’Tigress blood, sweat and tears? Monkey work Bamboo chop,”
“After receiving a copy of the document containing the breakdown of debts officially and on your phone, you were contrite and personally sent a message to the team in February’ 2021 preparation’s camp in Atlanta promising that these debts will be fulfilled, was all that a pretend to stop players from revolting?
“You are a leader and you should hold yourself accountable and federation to ensure transparency. Musa Kida is an investor/majority owner of AFA, the apparel company that you’ve contracted to dress our beloved Olympians, we support our own but is that not a conflict of interest?
“How convenient that PEAK the men’s team apparel and contracted sponsors with monetary incentives which NBBF has collected, conveniently ended up in Demurrage at Apapa Wharf? Now that it has been cleared with the assistance of the ministry, why are the goods in Musa Kida’s house and not in the federation’s warehouse? They queried.
Meanwhile, the female basketball players are no longer finding it easy with the NBBF embattled caretaker committee chairman who also has been accused of using derogatory words on the male players during the AGM held in Abuja on Saturday.
NBBF newly elected players rep Stanley Gumut claimed that Kida called the players who turned up for the election that brought him to the board as hoodlums and thugs.
