Former president of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi, has stated that he is not interested in returning as NFF president but insisted that he must get justice for the his unlawful impeachment process in 2010.
Abdulllahi was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alongside Amanze Uchegbulam, Bolaji Ojo-Oba and Taiwo Ogunjobi for offences relating to conspiracy and breach of due process which, according to EFCC, contravenes the public procurement act.
The former NFF top officials were accused of purchasing two marcopolo buses by the EFCC, who argued that process in the purchase of the vehicles violates the existing act of the football association.
Speaking with Goal.com from his home town in Idah, Lulu who is the proprietor of FOSLA Academy stated that he is fulfilled with his success during his days in office as his record remains unsurpassed by his successors in NFF so far.
“I must at this point appreciate everyone who has been standing by me in the face of my predicament since the injustice I suffered in 2010. I believe in justice and those who for their desperate interests to sabotage our efforts and truncated our passionate visions will meet their doom and know no peace,”
“However at this point, I wish to state categorically that I’m not interested in returning as NFF president. I have had the chance and never left anything at the Glass House. Though I was aggrieved with how I was illegally impeached by those who we trusted to have shared in the visions of developing the game.
“Football is a game I love with passion and my achievements when I was the NFF president before I was forcefully impeached are still very visible and there for everyone to see. Nobody can disclaim the fact that we did revive the game from its dead state,” he said.
“It pains me most when many Nigerians were blindfolded from realizing the positive contributions we made towards the growth of the game of football in the country due to some people’s personal interests.
“No hard feelings as I have since then moved on, but will continue to pray for justice to prevail. Justice delayed is not justice denied. No matter how long, I will wait for justice as I’m not guilty of any corruption charges.
“Nobody is asking questions where the N2.8 billion I left in office was, but the unfounded charges about the two buses were duly bought for the Federation and still in use till date after five years,” he concluded.
The former FCT Director of Sports during his tenure as NFF President from 2006-2010 notably established the age-grade teams with the U-13 in 2007, from which the likes of Chidera Ezeh, Kelechi Iheanacho and host of others graduated into the 2013 World Cup U-17 winning Golden Eaglets after U-15 and now into U-20 Flying Eagles.
It’s also on record that during his period in office, Super Eagles soared high to an enviable 9th position in the FIFA rankings but dropped to 32nd spot by the time he was impeached.
Lulu’s case will be revisted by the Federal High Court, Abuja on January 20.
