The apprehension among Nigerians that the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) will ban the country has been quelled for now.

The IAAF recently gave a two-week deadline to Nigeria to refund monies overpaid its affiliate body in the country, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), two years ago.

On the eve of the expiration of that deadline, there was a shocking twist as the outgoing sports minister, Solomon Dalung, openly took a swipe at the world athletics body; accusing them of blackmail.

Mr Dalung unequivocally declared that the IAAF had no right to ban Nigeria while also faulting why it took almost two months before the athletics body came out to say they made a mistake in a transaction they had confirmed.

“I smell rat in the whole thing and I believe that the whole thing has been orchestrated in an attempt to blackmail Nigeria,” the minister told journalists at Saturday’s race in Okpekpe.

He continued: “Even when we went into it, we were not even convinced what the mistake was, is it a mistake of Nigeria or that of IAAF?

“When did they realise they made a mistake when the transaction was confirmed? I made a mistake in transferring money… I realised within 10 minutes and I called my bank and I retrieved the money. Why did it take IAAF two months to realise a mistake? An international organization, highly reputable?”

However, Nicole Jeffery, Head of Communications of the IAAF, sent a statement to PREMIUM TIMES revealing that Mr Dalung on his final day in office, on Tuesday, had fresh talks with the IAAF President Sebastian Coe and an amicable solution has now been reached

“The IAAF can confirm that the Honourable Solomon Dalung, Minister for Sport in Nigeria, and IAAF President, Sebastian Coe spoke by telephone yesterday evening to discuss the overdue payment of the funds that were mistakenly paid by the IAAF to the Athletics Federation of Nigeria.

“An amicable resolution has been reached and the matter will be settled very soon. The IAAF would like to thank Minister Dalung for his assurances and continued interest in the sport of Athletics,” the statement from the IAAF read.

After three and a half years, Mr Dalung’s reign ended as the Minister for Youth and Sports Tuesday.

www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/332436-nigeria-escapes-iaaf-ban-as-dalung-makes-u-turn-over-federations-130000

Dalung has spend-ed the money. I'm sure Jubril will retain him as Minister

Ok, this is yahoo plus at work

Oga wanted to SPENDED the money

The problem is ... Where is the money

Dalung wan do small yahoo,the fear of Efcc no let am

hisexcellency34:
Dalunh has spend-ed the money. I'm sure Jubril will retain him as Minister

Yes as Jubril tenure will end 2013 and Buhari will take over

It is not always good to be keeping silence on some issues.

Lool someone said maybe it’s part of the reparations to Africa.

But this is embarrassing, the money has obviously been spent

Yeye dey smell, was he not forming boss?

Last last

hisexcellency34:
Dalung has spend-ed the money. I'm sure Jubril will retain him as Minister

NECO

Dalung didn't deny any overpayment from the statements above.
He only spoke on the fact that they discovered it late (two months later).
That does not invalidated the fact if there's actually an overpayment.

One of the biggest achievement of PMB 2nd tenure will be this man not returning back as minister of anything...

Solomon Dalung Really Messed Up Big Time. EFCC No go see all dis ones now Oooo.

I though he was forming Boss Before..

Nigeria is mostly associated with money scam abroad, even though the other party is guilty but immediately Nigeria name is involve automatically people take it that they are the one that carried out the scam.

Bloody thief.

It does not erase the disgrace he has brought us by delaying.

Dalung is among the idîots the Daûra dûllard took six months to appoint as minister

Dalung is a face to face yahoo boy. Simple.

Village people and EFCC dey look Dalung like....

'Spended' actually..

Let Dalung swear he didn't realize the over payment. He probably was happy at the awoof. Now him belle dey run.

fergie001:
The apprehension among Nigerians that the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) will ban the country has been quelled for now.

The IAAF recently gave a two-week deadline to Nigeria to refund monies overpaid its affiliate body in the country, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), two years ago.

On the eve of the expiration of that deadline, there was a shocking twist as the outgoing sports minister, Solomon Dalung, openly took a swipe at the world athletics body; accusing them of blackmail.

Mr Dalung unequivocally declared that the IAAF had no right to ban Nigeria while also faulting why it took almost two months before the athletics body came out to say they made a mistake in a transaction they had confirmed.

“I smell rat in the whole thing and I believe that the whole thing has been orchestrated in an attempt to blackmail Nigeria,” the minister told journalists at Saturday’s race in Okpekpe.

He continued: “Even when we went into it, we were not even convinced what the mistake was, is it a mistake of Nigeria or that of IAAF?

“When did they realise they made a mistake when the transaction was confirmed? I made a mistake in transferring money… I realised within 10 minutes and I called my bank and I retrieved the money. Why did it take IAAF two months to realise a mistake? An international organization, highly reputable?”

However, Nicole Jeffery, Head of Communications of the IAAF, sent a statement to PREMIUM TIMES revealing that Mr Dalung on his final day in office, on Tuesday, had fresh talks with the IAAF President Sebastian Coe and an amicable solution has now been reached

“The IAAF can confirm that the Honourable Solomon Dalung, Minister for Sport in Nigeria, and IAAF President, Sebastian Coe spoke by telephone yesterday evening to discuss the overdue payment of the funds that were mistakenly paid by the IAAF to the Athletics Federation of Nigeria.

“An amicable resolution has been reached and the matter will be settled very soon. The IAAF would like to thank Minister Dalung for his assurances and continued interest in the sport of Athletics,” the statement from the IAAF read.

After three and a half years, Mr Dalung’s reign ended as the Minister for Youth and Sports Tuesday.

www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/332436-nigeria-escapes-iaaf-ban-as-dalung-makes-u-turn-over-federations-130000

CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA is an academy.