By Sunny Bako 

Chief Executive Officer of Monimichelle Sports Facility Construction Limited, Ebi Egbe, has issued a detailed rebuttal to statements made by Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) General Secretary, Dr. Sanusi Mohammed, regarding the stalled FIFA-funded pitch project in Ogborodo.

The remarks were made on the WhatsApp discussion platform NSM Rebranded, convened by Canada-based journalist Wale Ajayi.

In his statement, Egbe accused the NFF of misrepresenting facts and challenged Dr. Sanusi to “deny” a series of events and agreements.

“Thank you for coming on this platform to deny what you have told me several times,” Egbe began. “Are you also going to deny that at our last meeting at the NFF, myself, yourself, Ibrahim Gusau, and two FIFA officials sat at a round table and agreed to send independent quantity surveyors from both the NFF and Monimichelle Sports to the Ogborodo site to evaluate the project?”

Egbe further claimed that Monimichelle had sent “several reminder letters to the NFF without a reply” seeking direction on the project. He also disputed the NFF’s reported payment figures. “Are you also going to deny that Monimichelle has only received 500,000 USD from the NFF as against the $1.1 million Wale Ajayi claimed the NFF has paid us, and the $650,000 the NFF claimed to have paid us?” he asked.

The contractor also raised questions about taxation and environmental standards: “Dr. Sanusi, are FIFA donations to Nigeria taxable? Why was tax deducted from my payment by the NFF? Are you also going to deny that your Kebbi Project is not a 100% black recycled tire granules infield pitch that produces carcinogens and is currently being phased out in Europe?”

Expressing disappointment, Egbe said, “I am honestly very disappointed at you for coming to the public to deny what you and Pinnick have severally told me.”

Addressing Wale Ajayi directly, Egbe urged transparency: “Please, Wale, I want to believe you are a man of honour. Please can you honestly tell the house where you got that information about the $1.1 million payment to Monimichelle Sports for the Ogborodo project?”

Egbe maintained that the company has “worked far more than the $500,000 received” and suggested that “there is something the NFF, Dr. Sanusi, and the former president Amaju Pinnick are not telling Nigerians.”

He also claimed that the working drawings provided were unsuitable for the terrain: “Are you also going to deny that the working drawings handed over to Monimichelle Sports were meant for stable land like Kebbi? Are you also going to deny that Monimichelle Sports did not notify the NFF about the faulty drawings?”

Concluding, Egbe alleged systemic malpractice: “The corruption in the football administrators’ ecosystem is what is killing Nigerian football. These corruption always have a way of fighting back. However, standing by the truth will always give us a pathway to overcome all blackmail.”