Tinubu Appoints Ex-NFF Official Shehu Dikko Linked to Corruption Probe as National Sports Commission DG.
President Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday, appointed Mallam Shehu Dikko as the Director General of the National Sports Commission, marking a significant move as part of a broader restructuring within the Nigerian sports sector.
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Dikko, who previously served as Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Chairman of the League Management Company (LMC), will lead the commission after Tinubu’s decision to dissolve the Ministry of Sports Development.
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In a statement, the President announced the immediate scrapping of the Ministry of Sports, transferring its responsibilities to the National Sports Commission. This move, according to Tinubu, aims to create “a vibrant sports economy” in Nigeria under Dikko’s leadership.
The President expressed gratitude to the outgoing members of the Federal Executive Council, acknowledging their contributions and charging the newly appointed ministers and officials to work towards achieving the administration’s goals for Nigeria’s growth and development.
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Corruption Allegations Against Shehu Dikko
“Despite his recent appointment, Dikko’s tenure at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has been marred by controversy, particularly surrounding allegations of corruption.
In 2019, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) implicated Dikko in the mismanagement of $2.7 million from FIFA’s Financial Assistance Programme during his time at the NFF. He was accused of misappropriating funds, including those meant for football sponsorship and FIFA development initiatives.
As part of its investigation, the ICPC seized several properties believed to be owned by Dikko. The probe was one of many high-profile investigations targeting NFF officials at the time.
The case was eventually dismissed by the Federal High Court, following an order from the then Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, to withdraw the charges, the allegations caused significant controversy within the football and sports administration sectors.
However, ICPC announced the seizure of some of the properties owned by Shehu Dikko in 2022.
A Fresh Start Amid Controversy
Dikko’s appointment as the head of the National Sports Commission comes as Tinubu’s government seeks to revitalise sports in the country. However, the shadow of previous corruption allegations may fuel public debate over his suitability for the role.
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