Legal Proceedings Launched Against FIFA’s President

Babajide Okeowo
Writer

Ad

$4.5bn: Court Admits More Evidence Against Emefiele

Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on October 9,2025, admitted more evidence against a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, in an alleged $4.5bn fraud. Emefiele is standing trial on a 19-count charge bordering on receiving gratification and corrupt demand preferred against him by…

NEITI Warns of Deepening Transparency Crisis, Says Nigeria Lost $3.3bn to Oil theft, Sabotage

By Obinna Uballa Nigeria lost an estimated 13.5 million barrels of crude oil valued at $3.3 billion to theft and pipeline sabotage between 2023 and 2024, the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has revealed. Executive Secretary of NEITI, Dr. Ogbonnaya Orji, disclosed this on Thursday at the 2025 Association of Energy Correspondents of Nigeria…

Oil Eases over 1.5% after Gaza ceasefire

Summary Israel and Hamas agree to Gaza ceasefire, return of hostages US oil product supplied highest since December 2022, EIA says Stalled peace talks in Ukraine underpin prices Oil prices edged slightly lower on Thursday after Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas signed an agreement to cease fire in Gaza. Brent crude futures were…

Ad

By Oyinlola Awonuga (The New Diplomat’s Entertainment, Fashion and Sports Desk)

Swiss prosecutors have launched legal proceedings against Fifa president Gianni Infantino over an allegation of an alleged secret meeting with the Swiss attorney general Michael Lauber.

Lauber last week offered to resign after a court said he covered up the meeting and lied to supervisors during an investigation by his office into corruption surrounding Fifa.

Infantino and the governing body said it would “co-operate fully with this investigation”.

In a statement released through Fifa, Infantino said: “As president of Fifa, it has been my aim from day one, and it remains my aim, to assist the authorities with investigating past wrongdoings at Fifa. Fifa officials have met with prosecutors in other jurisdictions across the world for exactly these purposes.”

Fifa also highlighted a comment Infantino made in June when he said: “To meet with the attorney general of Switzerland is perfectly legitimate and it’s perfectly legal. It’s no violation of anything.”

Lauber’s office said he officially tendered his resignation on Tuesday, with his last day of active duty set for 31 August.

It comes after special prosecutor Stefan Keller was appointed in June to review criminal complaints against the two men and others.

He found indications of criminal conduct related to their meetings, the authority overseeing the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) said.

“This concerns abuse of public office, breach of official secrecy, assisting offenders and incitement to these acts,” the watchdog overseeing the OAG said in a statement.

The OAG said it had taken note of the development, adding Lauber would make statements to parliamentary committees if necessary.

The watchdog said Keller had now opened proceedings against both Infantino and a regional public prosecutor who was involved in the meetings and was seeking parliamentary approval to have Lauber’s immunity from prosecution waived.

Ad

Unlocking Opportunities in the Gulf of Guinea during UNGA80
X whatsapp