Anti-corruption body investigates Nigerian football

Top Nigerian football executives sacked after the national team's poor World Cup showing have been placed under investigation by the country's anti-graft agency, an official said.

The probe into the ex-football federation chief, two other fired executives and the current secretary general is the latest World Cup fallout, which also saw President Goodluck Jonathan ban the team, a move he later reversed.

"These people are under investigation for mismanaging funds in their care," Economic and Financial Crimes Commission spokesman Femi Babafemi told AFP.

Those under investigation are ex-president Sani Lulu Abdullahi, vice-president Amanze Uchegbulam and executive committee member Taiwo Ogunjobi, all of whom were sacked after Nigeria exited the World Cup after the group stage.

Secretary-general Bolaji Ojo-Oba, who has retained his post, is also being probed, according to Babafemi.

The agency plans to question them on Thursday "to explain how they manage millions of dollars put in their care," said Babafemi.

Traditional African powerhouse Nigeria, the continent's most populous nation, finished bottom of their group in South Africa with just one point from three matches.

The dismal showing angered the government, which suspended the national team from international competition for two years, but that decision was reversed on Monday to avoid sanctions from football world governing body FIFA.

FIFA seeks to prevent political interference in the sport.

Many Nigerians applaud the EFCC move to probe the football administrators.

"The EFCC move is the best thing for the country. The ministry of sports is rotten and its needs cleansing," sports analyst and boxing promoter, Martin Osaile, told AFP in a reaction.

"There is a serious need to correct the ills in the ministry. It is stinking along with its officials. I would have wanted more former and serving sports administrators to be included in this probe," he stated.

"The probe of the officials is a right step. When people indicted over corruption are probed, found guilty and punished, it would serve as a deterrent to others who may want to breach public trust," Lagos human rights lawyer Festus Keyamo said.

Spokesman of the Nigerian Olympic Committee, Tony Nezianya, said that the EFCC probe "is a welcome development. It will help to strengthen our faith in the people we put in position of trust."

"Corruption is a heinous crime and a sabotage against this country and it should not be condoned," said Nezianya who as a journalist covered several Olympic and Commonwealth Games.