EFCC invitation mere routine, says Babalola

[MrVan]

The acting Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) Board, Mr Tunji Babalola has maintained that his recent invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was a normal routine of the commission.

Speaking with the NAN on Wednesday in Lagos, he said the EFCC invitation was nothing extraordinary as the commission only needed him to clarify certain developments in the NPL.

Babalola said he was surprised by the manner in which the issue was being blown out of proportion.

"I don't have a case to answer; they were investigating a case in our office, and because of my position I am the right person to be in that place to respond to the issues that would be raised.

"When they are investigating a case they have to invite me and not my subordinate; I am the person that should be invited to find out what has happened. If there is an allegation, we should be in a position to respond; and the right person to do that is the person that is in charge; that was why I was in their office. It's a normal thing."

He told NAN that the interim board would ensure that the 2012/2013 NPL season began as originally planned.

"Of course you know we have to put certain things in place before we can take a decision and the Nigeria Football Federation says the league must commence before the Nations Cup in South Africa; and the Nations Cup commences on the 19th, which means we have to start the league before that time.

"We are still on course and there is no cause for alarm; the priority for them should be to reposition the league; that should be their first priority; to reposition the league in terms of commercial value."(NAN)

Vanguard Nigeria