We gathered that some officials of the
Ministry of Sports and National Sports Commission, NSC, have cornered about
N13million out of the funds released for the accommodation of sports
contingents that graced the reception in honour of Under 17 Golden Eaglets players
and athletes that made the country proud in Abuja recently.
 |
| Sports Minister, Abdullahi |
Our reporter reliably gathered from a source
in the ministry accounts department that the sum of N13 million was budgeted
for accommodation at Transcorp Hilton Hotel and it was supposed to be one
person in a room each but they ended keeping the contingents in a two-star
hotel.
According to our findings, the sum of N80,000
was budgeted for a room for each player but they ended up paying less than N12,000
with two persons sharing a room.
Our source disclosed to our correspondent
that the Special Assistants to the minister of sports, Bolaji Abdullahi were
responsible for the disbursement of the funds.
He said after the event which was graced by
President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, guests were stranded the
following day, as the officials were nowhere around to settle the bills hence
the guests started complaining.
When our correspondent put a call across to a
friend who would not want his name mentioned, who incidentally was part of the
contingents, he lamented on how he missed his flight because of his inability
to leave the hotel on time.
 |
| DG, NSC Elegbeleye |
According to him, “I couldn’t go back today
(Wednesday) because the hotel where we lodged held us to ransom because the
ministry staff refused to clear the debts they are owing them. This is not the
first time this type of thing is happening, we have always been embarrassed,”
he complained.
Incidentally, the scam happened two days
after the new director-general of the NSC, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye assumed
office.
This is not the first time such scenario is
happening as the NSC officials have always been fingered in such arrangements
especially when they organise events in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
They have been caught involved in inflation of figures on several occasions.
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