NPL to investigate N12m fraud

Troubled Nigeria Premier League (NPL) has said it will begin an inquest into an alleged N12 million (about $75,000) fraud.

SuperSport.com learned that the N12 million fraud was allegedly uncovered in the accounts department of the Premier League.

The NPL accountant, Joe Ogbowie allegedly fingered in the missing money pleaded to be left alone as he did not want to comment on the matter.

Instead he directed every inquiry on the alleged missing N12 million to the NPL Acting Executive Secretary, Tunji Babalola.

"I'm not in a position to make comment. Mr Tunji Babalola is the right person to talk on this matter," he said.

Babalola, however, told SuperSport.com on Saturday that investigation will commence into allegations of forgery and fraud leading to the said missing N12 million.

"I can't comment on it (the allegation of the N12 million fraud). The league board currently cannot sit because of the court case. But we (at the secretariat) are investigating the matter. First we will be getting details from the banks where we have accounts to get to the root of the matter.

"It is unfortunate that this report has come up at a time like this. But nothing is confirmed yet because we cannot just take up the matter against people at the (NPL) accounts department until we have proof of stolen money. For now we are investigating and as soon as we get further information on the alleged stolen money then we will make it public.

"And I must make it clear that any offender found guilty in this allegation will not be spared as the NPL has a name to protect before its sponsors and Nigerians," said Babalola to SuperSport.com on Monday.

The NPL, before it was declared an illegal body by a Federal High Court in Nigeria's capital, Abuja, was investigating an allegation of a missing N30 million ($187,500) from its coffers last year.