National Amputee Footballers Allegations: Isah Gives Own Side Of Story

IKPO IGBINOBA 

President of the Nigeria Amputee Football Federation, Mr. Suleiman Isah has dismissed the allegations levelled against by the national Amputee footballers.

The Amputee footballers had in a petition addressed to the Sports Ministry accused Mr. Isah of corruption, abuse of office and cheating them out of their deserved benefits.

Reacting to the allegations, the outgoing President told P.M. EXPRESS in an exclusive telephone interview that he ran an open and transparent administration which was always accountable.

According to him “The books are there. The records are there. I hid nothing. In fact, I carried all the stakeholders along”

Instead of being vilified, Isah said his administration should be praised for its achievements in spite of the challenges.

“Throughout my tenure, I did not receive a dime from the government  yet for the first time in the history of Amputee Football, Nigeria was at the World Cup in Mexico in 2018”.

“A year later in Angola, Nigeria clinched silver in the African Cup of Nations”.

Isah said the clamour for him to be sacked by the Sports Minister is the handiwork of detractors who are desperate to take control of the association.

When asked why he didn’t go to Mexico in 2018 for the World Cup after collecting the sum of N1.2 million, Isah said the funds raised for the tournament came in bits.

Isah, former Technical Director of the federation, Are Feyisetan and Pius Asaba were accused by the footballers of pocketing N1.2 million each without attending the event.

The President was quick to add “When the Mexico 2018 World Cup ended, I gave a statement of account to the entire board and I was not found wanting”.

As for the Covid-19, palliatives, which he was accused of mismanaging, Isah said he had nothing to do with it.

He claimed “I didn’t touch any palliatives. The Sports Ministry dealt directly with the athletes through their captains”.