TheCable

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) factional acting president, Mike Umeh, has condemned the fire incident that gutted the football house on Wednesday, describing it as an act of sabotage.

Umeh, who is the vice-president in the Aminu Maigari-led board, also accused general secretary of the NFF, Musa Amadu, culpability in the act.

“It is unbelievable that this kind of fire could happen during working hours, because the general secretary was there when it started from his office and he was just watching,” Umeh told SL10.

“This is an act of sabotage and it shows the level of corruption in the Nigeria Football Federation. All important documents that can prove the corruption have been destroyed and you ask yourself how this could happen at such a time.”

The former Super Eagles’ team manager alluded that the fire could be arson, in a bid to stop the coming elections in the federation.

“And I can tell you that they are trying to buy time with this but if they like, they can burn the whole Abuja. Nothing will stop the elections from holding on the 26th. Nobody can perpetuate themselves in office and it was obvious in the meeting they held on Tuesday,” he said.

Meanwhile, Musa Amadu said the federation will ‘’get to the root of the whole thing’’.

“I think the fire may have started from a power upsurge that happened at about that time. We tried as much as we could, but it is quite unfortunate. I have assured you, we are going to reassess those things that have got burnt, and those missing.

“We want to assure Nigerians that the job of the federation would not be affected in any way. We would continue our normal duties until we get to the root of the whole thing.”

Amadu who was the on ground to salvage some of the document in his office, said they were able to rescue most of the trophies won by the country’s national teams.

On his part, Aminu Maigari gave thanks to God that no lives were lost in the inferno.

“We are grateful to God Almighty that no lives were lost in the fire incident. We are optimistic that we would get over this incident, and I am sure that the security agencies would step in immediately to investigate what had happened,” he told the media.

Maigari returned to work at the Glass House on Monday after several months of intrigues culminating in his impeachment by the board over allegations of corruption, but he was reinstated by the sports minister, Tammy Danagogo, under the directives of FIFA.