By Osasu Obayiuwana BBC Sport

I am very concerned about the controversy surrounding this young player Nigeria FA chairman Ibrahim Galadima

The Nigeria Football Association (NFA) is to summon John Ola Shittu, who insists he is the agent of John Mikel Obi, to explain his role in the controversy surrounding the 18-year-old player.

Obi, who features for Norwegian side Lyn Oslo, has claimed he was forced to sign a contract with Manchester United.

Shittu, who took Obi to London last week, is licensed by the NFA, under existing Fifa regulations, to work as an agent.

"I am very concerned about the controversy surrounding this young player," NFA chairman Ibrahim Galadima told BBC Sport.

"We are going to formally ask his agent, who got his license through our association, to appear before us and explain this very disturbing situation.

"I have just got back from the Under-17 African Championship in The Gambia and we need to find out what is happening.

"We do not want our young players to be put in situations that will ruin their careers," Galadima told BBC Sport.

Shittu told BBC Sport that he is prepared to answer a formal summons from the NFA to explain his role in the ongoing affair.

"I am more than ready to explain to explain my conduct to the NFA whenever I am summoned to appear before them."

Shittu, who claimed that he took his client out of Norway for his own safety, dismissed claims that he 'kidnapped' Obi for personal financial gain.

Obi has claimed he was forced to sign a contract with Manchester United

"We left Norway, at his request, to get the pressure off his head. He is now very relaxed.

"As his agent, I am determined that he will not be exploited by any club who may want to take advantage of him," Shittu told BBC Sport.

He went on to deny allegations that an interested club had used him to channel over US$7,000 to the father of Mikel Obi, in order to persuade the player to sign a management contract with him.

"I sent the money to the player's father, at his request, when he said there was a family emergency. That was all. It was not a bribe of any sort," he insisted.