Nigeria’s anti-corruption agencies have launched investigations into the utilisation of the N12bn Federal Government intervention fund released to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for players’ wages, allowances and bonuses.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission have invited some officials connected to the fund for questioning, according to a source familiar with the investigation.

The source told The PUNCH that the officials had provided statements and were currently on administrative bail, while investigations remained ongoing.

The probe followed a request under the Freedom of Information Act seeking financial records and utilisation documents relating to the N12bn intervention fund.

In a letter dated August 18, 2026, the NFF declined to release the requested documents, citing the ongoing investigations by the EFCC and ICPC. The federation said all relevant documents were already before the two agencies.

The N12bn was approved by President Bola Tinubu in January 2024 to clear outstanding financial obligations to Nigeria’s national teams. The payment was reported to cover up to 15 months of coaches’ salaries, as well as allowances and other outstanding payments to the senior men’s and women’s teams and the U-20 side.

The investigation comes amid continued complaints over unpaid allowances and bonuses involving Nigeria’s national teams.

In November 2025, the Super Eagles reportedly boycotted a training session in Morocco ahead of their 2026 World Cup play-off against Gabon over outstanding allowances dating back to 2019.

In April 2026 that members of Nigeria’s 2023 and 2025 Flying Eagles teams claimed the NFF owed them about N1.5bn in qualification bonuses and camp allowances.

The latest investigation also comes as the NFF faces renewed scrutiny following Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the Super Falcons’ failure to qualify for the 2027 Women’s World Cup.

NFF President Ibrahim Gusau is seeking another term at the federation’s planned September 27 elective congress. The federation has also faced claims that the National Sports Commission could seek to halt the election and install a normalisation committee, although the NFF board has denied the allegation.

The EFCC and ICPC had not publicly commented on the investigation as of the time of The PUNCH report.