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Solomon Dalung has paid N27million to the IAAF as promised before leaving office. The world's athletics body had threatened to ban Nigeria if N57million is not returned. Vice president of the athletics federation of Nigeria confirmed that the outgoing minister returned the money Former minister for youths and sports development Solomon Dalung on Tuesday, May 29, returned N27million out of the N54m missing to the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). It is understood that Dalung in a phone chat with IAAF President Sebastian Coe, promised to return part of the money before he left office which he did.
        According to reports, it was confirmed by top officials of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) in separate interviews.Vice president of AFN, Hon Olamide George said half of the missing money was paid by the sports ministry to avoid being ban from the IAAF. “It is important to know that the ministry has paid part of the money to the AFN. The sad part is the board was not even aware that the ministry had paid some money back until when the minister called for a meeting and he opened up and the president could not deny,” he said. Brown Ebewele who was one of the board members, confirmed the vice president's statement: “Yes, the sports minister has communicated with the president of IAAF on the issue and they reached an agreement. The IAAF is no longer sanctioning Nigeria.” Sunday Adeleye, who is also the technical director of the AFN also confirmed that the minister had paid the money. But when asked when and who will pay the remaining amount, he stated that the ministry will pay up, not the AFN. “The people who know about it have already agreed to pay back 50% of the money to IAAF which includes the ministry. The ministry will pay the remaining balance because it is their debt not AFN,” he said.