Mallam Alhassan Yakmut was grilled by the EFCC over a petition written against the commission covering on fraud and misappropriation of funds.
DG National Sports Commission, Mallam Alhassan Yakmut.
Currently acting on a formal petition, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has moved swiftly into action to investigate the National Sports Commission(NSC) Director General, Mallam Alhassan Yakmut.
In a chat with Sports Vanguard, Yakmut said “Yes I was invited to the EFCC and I was there for six hours because they were very professional, they were thorough, very efficient.They wanted to substantiate the credibility of the petition before them.”
He also added that, “The petitioner started with a serious allegation that I was a creation of manipulation to siphon funds by the immediate past minister but the petitioner didn’t mention that I have a Masters degree, the petitioner said I was desperate to become director general. I don’t know how someone who has spent 25 years at the Sports Commission with a Masters degree and a core professional who has also passed the Permanent Secretary as far back as last year should be described as someone who is desperate.”
Shedding more light on the allegations, the NSC boss said “I wasn’t excited about the request and I refused to be agitated, I presented all the facts. There was a phantom claim that I have executed street lights with the All Africa Games funds to the tune of N109 million naira. All that we did as we have announced is 43 street lights to secure the athletes hostel and entrance into the stadium for the sum of N21 million naira and it was approved by the management and the minutes was signed by nine directors, only one director that did not sign and has made maximally the requirements of due process.
“We also sought the approval of the DG budget on the N750 million which was clearly stated that the amount was strictly for the preparation for the All Africa Games and the Olympics as well as participation for sporting activities. And when we gave them the expenditure that the sum of N685m out of that money has been expended so far and all athletes are in camp, yet the petitioner claimed our participation was in jeopardy. In fact the EFCC was wondering whether they were investigating an expenditure that was done after the event or before the event,” Yakmut said.
Though he refused to name the petitioner, he dismissed the petition, calling it the work of those that opposed his appointment.