By Emmanuel Omolah

Judge Peter Affen of Federal Capital Territory court at Maitama Abuja has fixed March 5, 2019 for the trial of three officials of the Nigeria Football Federation NFF, charged with misappropriation of $9.5 million FIFA grant.
Those standing trial are, Christopher Andekin, NFF Director of Administration and Finance, Fadanari Mamza, Head of Finance and Accounts Department and Reagan Zaka, a Cashier.
They were taken to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC on five counts of criminal conspiracy, breach of trust and misappropriation.
The trial, earlier billed for Wednesday November 28 did not hold despite the presence in court of all the parties to the case including the defendants.
Mr. Affen fixed the date after he met with all the counsels in the matter in his chamber.
The EFCC through its counsel, Steve Odiase informed the court that the three defendants conspired between January 8 and 26, 2015 to commit the offences, contrary to section 97 of the Penal Code.
Odiase alleged that Andekin was entrusted with money meant for the development of football in Nigeria, a grant from the Federation of International Football Association FIFA.
He said Andekin however fraudulently diverted $1.3 million from the NFF domiciliary account with Zenith Bank, an act that is contrary to section 311of the Penal Code.
He further alleged that Zaka on his part fraudulently diverted $7.2 million grant from FIFA for development of football in Nigeria while Mamza diverted $2.3 million.
The three defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.