Nigeria's anti-graft agency probes executives

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 yesterday.

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 today "to explain how they manage millions of dollars put in their care," said Babafemi.

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.