Corruption Rocks Nigerian Basketball: NBBF Secretary Accused of N500,000 Fraud

Nigerian Basketball Shame: From Digital Dreams to Wooden Nightmares

Ibadan, Nigeria – The already beleaguered landscape of Nigerian domestic basketball, currently brought to a standstill, is reeling from fresh allegations of deep-seated corruption within its administrative ranks. At the heart of the latest scandal is Peter Njoku, the former Secretary General of the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF), who stands accused of orchestrating a fraudulent scheme that has allegedly siphoned hundreds of thousands of naira from aggrieved basketball clubs.

 

The unfolding drama began in 2024 when the Oluyole Warriors of Ibadan lodged a formal protest against Delta Force during the Nigerian basketball league. The Warriors alleged that Delta Force fielded “uncleared players,” a clear violation of league regulations. Following due process, the Oluyole Warriors were instructed by the match commissioner to formalize their protest in writing.

However, the pursuit of justice quickly took an unexpected and alarming turn. Upon submitting their protest letter, the Oluyole Warriors were asked to pay a protest fee of N500,000. This hefty sum raised immediate eyebrows, especially in a league where teams reportedly receive less than N5 million in subsidies, highlighting a stark disparity in financial expectations.

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The shock deepened when the then-Secretary General, Peter Njoku, directed the Oluyole Warriors to transfer the N500,000 protest fee directly into his personal bank account. Despite their initial surprise and apprehension about paying official federation funds into an individual’s account, the Warriors proceeded with the payment on November 1, 2024, as evidenced by a transaction receipt, in their earnest quest for a fair outcome.

Corruption Rocks Nigerian Basketball: NBBF Secretary Accused of N500,000 Fraud

Their appeal was ultimately successful, and the Oluyole Warriors won their case.

 

According to NBBF regulations, a winning appeal should result in the refund of the protest fee. Yet, what followed was a frustrating saga of evasion and unfulfilled promises. The Oluyole Warriors’ persistent attempts to reclaim their N500,000 were met with a string of excuses and delays, including repeated “come today, come tomorrow” scenarios. A formal letter of complaint for the refund, addressed to the Director General of the National Sports Commission and copied to relevant parties, including the Federation Elites Athletics Department (FEAD), was met with “deafening silence.”

 

Months, and now years, have passed since the initial payment, and the Oluyole Warriors have yet to receive their refund, leaving them significantly out of pocket and disillusioned by the NBBF’s administrative practices.

Corruption Rocks Nigerian Basketball: NBBF Secretary Accused of N500,000 Fraud

This appears not to be an isolated incident. Comets Basketball Club, another prominent team, has reportedly fallen victim to a similar N500,000 scam, also allegedly paying into Peter Njoku’s personal account.

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Ayodele Bakare, the founder and head coach of Comets Basketball Club, publicly voiced his concerns months ago, but it remains unclear if any restitution has been made to his team.

 

The grave question now looms large: How are funds intended for the national basketball federation finding their way into the personal accounts of individuals? This alleged practice goes beyond mere administrative oversight; it strongly suggests a systemic breakdown of financial accountability and potential fraud within the NBBF.

 

Critics are calling for immediate and thorough investigations by Nigeria’s anti-graft agencies, the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). If a Secretary General can allegedly defraud clubs of significant sums through personal accounts, the implications for larger sponsorship deals and federal government allocations to the NBBF under his watch are deeply concerning.

 

Furthermore, the silence from other NBBF committees, particularly the Technical Committee and Competitions Committee, has raised suspicions. Their apparent inaction in addressing these serious allegations has led many to question their complicity, suggesting they may be “in the same WhatsApp group of fraudsters,” turning a blind eye to or even facilitating these alleged illicit activities.

 

As the Nigerian basketball community grapples with the ongoing domestic league shutdown, these new allegations of financial impropriety further erode trust and cast a dark shadow over the sport’s future in the country. The calls for transparency and accountability are growing louder, but whether these calls will finally break the silence and lead to concrete action remains to be seen.

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About Fadaka Louis

Smile if you believe the world can be better....

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