Pinnick: I spent money to win NFF election but it was not bribe

Newly elected president of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, has acknowledged that he used money to win the NFF presidential election in Warri, but he denies that it was a bribe to the delegates to get their votes.

Following reports of money exchanging hands during the elections held at Golden Tulip Hotel in Warri, Delta state, Pinnick has admitted to spending money for the right reason only – to win the election.

“I can tell you that there is no election you don’t spend money. But it is not to bribe people,” he told SL10.ng.

“You can use money for logistics, like people coming; you fly them in and make them happy. Even Obama spent money in his elections. He had a trust fund.

“So I’m not going to tell you that I didn’t spend money. I spent money but not the volume of money everybody is talking about because everybody spent money.

“Everybody that contested in that election spent money but it’s not to say you’d use the money to bribe people. Or are you saying I do not merit it?” he asked rhetorically.

Pinnick also dismissed the claim that money exchanged hands before former president Aminu Maigari was named an honorary president of the federation.

“I can tell you that is a cooked-up story because where am I getting the money to pay and why should I pay? There’s no truth in that.

“I sought the approval of my board members to name Maigari as the honorary life president because we felt he had done well by qualifying Nigeria for all the major competitions. And we thought he probably has some magic wand.”