Sports minister approves refund of $65,000 wrongly paid to AFN (updated)

Sunday Dare, minister of sports, has approved the release of the money International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) wrongly paid to the account of its affiliate body in Nigeria in 2017.

The global body was supposed to send $15,000 to Nigeria but mistakenly sent $150,000.

After several efforts to recover the money, it threatened to sanction the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN).

In a letter sent to Ibrahim Gusau, president of the AFN, Jee Isram, IAAF senior manager, governance, said the AFN was contacted immediately the anomaly was noticed on March 18, 2018.

Subsequently, $75,000 was refunded under Solomon Dalung, former minister of sports

In a series of tweets on Wednesday evening, Dare said he had instructed that balance be paid.

He said baring any interbank delays, the fund would hit the account of IAAF in a few days.

“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,” he tweeted.

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

Editor’s note: This story has been updated in view of new facts