Dominic Iorfa, the Former Lobi Stars Executive Chairman, has denied all allegations of financial impropriety and embezzlement while managing the Makurdi-based outfit.
Iorfa, who debuked the allegations of financial embezzlement in the state’s forensic audit report, said that the Benue State government owes him over N400m.
Speaking in a programme called ECN Hard Truth, Iorfa said, “They owe me over N400 million. I have documentation for it. I never embezzled money. I was wrongly accused.”
The former Super Eagles forward, who rejoined Lobi Stars in 2022 during the administration of ex-governor Samuel Ortom, said the club’s finances were more transparent at the time, with match expenses and player salaries released directly through the office of the Accountant-General.
He noted that the challenges only emerged after Governor Hyacinth Alia took office and altered the club’s financial structure.
“When Governor Alia came, his style was different. For money to be released, the account had to be unlocked. Sometimes, salaries or match funds would take a month to come. If he didn’t sign, you had to look for money elsewhere to play matches.”
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He added that under Alia’s administration, funding was provided for only 14 of the 57 matches played, including 10 FA Cup games, each costing the club around ₦6 million.
“So if I was only given money for 14 matches and I still managed to play 57, how can anyone say I embezzled money? I was borrowing money to run the club. I even owe so many people because of that.”
In January, the Benue State Government had released a white paper on the forensic audit of Lobi Stars’ finances from 2020 to 2024, which indicted three former vice chairmen, including Iorfa, and ordered them to refund about ₦2.4bn to the state.
The report attributed nearly ₦1.8bn of the alleged unaccounted funds to Iorfa’s tenure. However, the former administrator dismissed the findings as a smear campaign, insisting that documented records clearly detail how the money was utilised for the club.
“Even up till today, money for many of those matches has not been paid to me. How can they accuse me of embezzlement? It is just an attempt to destroy my name,” he said.
Iorfa cited Lobi Stars’ disastrous campaign last season as evidence that his stewardship was stronger than that of his successors. The club suffered one of the earliest relegations in Nigerian league history in April, ending a 27-year stay in the top flight with only six victories and the worst record in the division.
“Look at what happened to them. In the second round, they played 19 matches and won only one. Even that one, they had to beg Insurance to let them win. Out of 38 points available, they got just six. That is the worst record ever,” he said.
However, Iorfa has stated that he holds no grudges and is willing to assist if the club approaches him.
“I even called the chairman and said if they needed my help, I am from Benue State, and I will always be ready. But they claimed they knew everything. If they truly knew, they would still be in the Premier League
“If God shows them that they have offended me, they should apologise. Because they knew what they were doing.”
In September 2024, Governor Alia dismissed Iorfa and placed Lobi Stars under the direct supervision of the Benue Sports Council, naming a six-man interim board led by Dr. Philip Nongu.
The decision has since been overshadowed by the club’s relegation, a dramatic decline for the 1999 league champions and once a formidable force on the continental stage
