Newly appointed Sports Minister Sunday Dare has approved the refund of the IAAF funds mistakenly paid to the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN).
The World Athletics governing body paid the sum of $150,000 to the AFN instead of $15,000 two years ago and since then all efforts by the IAAF to retrieve the extra $135,000 funds proved abortive.
That has however now been rectified as the new Sports Minister revealed via his twitter handle that the matter has been handled.
IAAF- I have approved the release of funds to refund the IAAF overpayment wrongly credited to the Athletics Federation of Nigeria. In a few days from now the funds should hit the account of the IAAF baring any interbank delays. With this Nigeria’s reputation is regained.
— Sunday Dare (@SundayDareSD) October 23, 2019
Re: IAAF refund approval is for the outstanding balance of $65,000-sixty five thousand US dollars. The first trench of the refund was made by the former Minister. I have only completed the refund because it is the right thing to do.
— Sunday Dare (@SundayDareSD) October 23, 2019
Mr Sunday Dare revealed that former Minister of Sports Solomon Dalung had initiated the refund process approving the first tranche while he is only ensuring that the remaining sum of $65,000 be returned.
With this development, Nigeria is expected to avoid an impending ban on the Federation and her athletes from the IAAF ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
