Minister of Youth and
Sports, Solomon Dalung says the International Association of Athletics
Federations (IAAF) has no reason to ban Nigeria for the refund of funds
the world athletics governing body erroneously paid the country.
IAAF
stated Nigeria was overpaid by $130,000 in 2017, a sum which the body
asked Nigeria to pay back within days or be sanctioned.
However,
speaking during the 7th Okpekpe 10km International Road Race held in
Edo State on Saturday, Dalung wondered why the athletics body only
raised the alarm two months after the said error.
“I think
Nigeria has been unfairly treated because the issue has been painted and
promoted as if there was any wrongdoing on the side of Nigeria,
certainly not. Grants were released to Nigeria on the 17th of May, 2017
and on the 19th of May, IAAF confirmed the transaction. Just for IAAF
after two months to turn round and cry foul that there is a mistake. I
mean a transaction that was done and confirmed suddenly turned mistake. I
smell a rat in the whole thing and I believe that the whole thing is
being orchestrated just to blackmail Nigeria.
“When did they
realise they made mistake after the transaction was confirmed. I made a
mistake in transferring money, I realised in ten minutes and I call my
bank to retrieve the money. Why did it take IAAF two months to realise
the mistake, an international organisation, highly reputable.
I
think it is not about money erroneously accredited to Nigeria, but
there is calculated attempt just to demean and destroy Nigerian
athletics. Otherwise, I don’t see why they call it a mistake.
We didn’t apply for grants.”
Asked what would the country do to avoid the ban,
Dalung replied, “Ban us for what, ban Nigeria for what? What has Nigeria done? What is the crime?
Did
we steal any money from them? Did we ask them to transfer money to us?
They transferred money to us, they confirmed the transfer and then after
two months, they woke up from slumber. Is IAAF telling us they are much
disorganised as that. Where Nigeria is wrong, Nigeria will own up but
you cannot just wake up and realise they have something to hold onto.
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