Hearing into the case of criminal conspiracy, misappropriation, criminal breach of trust and cheating in violation of the Nigeria Penal Code brought against the President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Shehu Gusau, and the federation’s Technical Director, Sunday Adeleye starts today, The PUNCH has learnt.
Also charged with the duo in the case, which will be heard at the Magistrate Court, Wuse 2, Abuja is Adeleye’s company, Dynamic Sporting Solution Nigeria Limited.
The AFN has been enmeshed in crisis for over a year, with a faction of the federation loyal to the vice president, Olamide George, impeaching Gusau as president.
But Gusau’s faction suspended George and declared autonomy from the sports ministry, but the ministry refused to recognise him as the AFN president.
He however got a ruling from the High Court and the Court of Appeal, affirming him as the president of the AFN.
Today’s court case was instituted after some members of the Olamide George faction petitioned the Inspector-General of Police over alleged diversion of funds paid by sportswear and equipment manufacturer, PUMA, into the accounts of Dynamic Sporting Solution Nigeria Limited.
The money was PUMA’s payment for sponsorship fees to kit Nigerian track and field athletes.
According to the charge cheat before the Magistrate Court, Gusua and the others were accused of “fraudulently inducing PUMA based at Doha to pay the sum of $75,000.00 into Account No. 0015296488 operated by Dynamic Sporting Solution Nig Ltd in the guise of sponsoring the federation’s sporting activities, which they then converted to their personal use.”
This was after PUMA had in a letter dated February 13, 2020 confirmed paying the money for the deal into Dynamic Sporting Solutions Nigeria Limited’s account.
Efforts to reach Gusau proved abortive. He did not pick our correspondent’s call and was yet to reply to the text message sent to his line as of the time of filing this report.
Adeleye however declined comments when our correspondent reached out to him.
Punch