Wednesday 23 October 2019

Sports Minister approves $65k to complete IAAF missing funds

By Akeem Lawal 
MINISTER of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare has approved the release of $65,000 being the balance of the excess $135,000 funds paid by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) to the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Sportsbiz247.blogspot.con reports.

Dare, who revealed the information via his Twitter handle, said the first trench of the refund was made by the former Minister, Solomon Dalung and he has only completed the refund because it is the right thing to do.

Dare said all things being equal, the funds will be paid in few day.

“IAAF- I have approved the release of funds to refund the IAAF overpayment wrongly credited to the Athletics Federation of Nigeria. In a few days from now the funds should hit the account of the IAAF baring any interbank delays. With this Nigeria’s reputation is regained.



“IAAF refund approval is for the outstanding balance of $65,000-sixty five thousand US dollars. The first trench of the refund was made by the former Minister. I have only completed the refund because it is the right thing to do,” he tweeted.

In 2017, IAAF mistakenly granted AFN $150,000 instead of $15, 000. The amount paid was supposed to be the annual grants to member federations for that year.
All efforts made by the world athletics body to ensure Nigeria refund the money proved abortive with association threatening to sanction AFN at a point.

However, Solomon Dalung, who was the sports minister during the period, accused the IAAF of ‘blackmail’, saying the country did not steal the money from them.

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