Gusau, AFN factional president, charged to court over ‘criminal breach of trust’

Ibrahim Shehu-Gusau, factional president of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), has been charged to court over alleged criminal breach of trust and cheating.

Also charged to court for the same offence is Sunday Adeleye, technical director of the body.

The duo were dragged to court by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) for the alleged diversion of over $75,000 from Puma meant for the athletics federation.

In the charge statement sent to TheCable, the money was said to have been diverted into DSS Ltd, a private company owned by Adeleye.

“The Nigerian Police have charged the embattled former President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Engineer Ibrahim Gusau and AFN’s former Athletes Rep. Sunday Adeleye for criminal breach of trust and cheating,” the charge sheet read.

“The Police dragged the duo to court over the diversion of more than $75,000.00 from Puma meant for the AFN into personal use.

“The money was diverted into the private company owned by Sunday Adeleye, DSS Ltd.”

The charge sheet also read, “that you Hon. Ibrahim Gusau “m”… conspired with Sunday Adeleye “m” …and Dynamic Sporting Solution Nig. Ltd.

“To cheat the Athletics Federation of Nigeria by fraudulently inducing PUMA based in Doha to pay the sum of $75,000 USD (seventy-five thousand US Dollars) into Account No: 0015296488 operated by Dynamic Sporting Solution Nig Ltd in the guise of sponsoring the Federation sporting activities whereby you dishonestly converted to your personal use.

“The court proceeding is ongoing even though Gusau and Adeleye are employing all tricks to frustrate their trial.”

When contacted by TheCable, Adeleye said he has nothing to say on the case since it is already in court.

“There is nothing to say on this matter because the case is in court,” Adeleye told TheCable.

“They should let the court hear the matter and pass judgement. That is all I am going to say.”

The police took the action after a petition by board members of the AFN to the police chief, accusing Shehu-Gusau and Adeleye of diverting into his personal account, monies paid by Puma as sponsorship fees to kit Nigerian track and field athletes.

In that petition, they alleged that Gusau and Adeleye signed the sponsorship deal without the knowledge of the board and most importantly the secretary-general who, according to the “federation’s constitution, article 8.7.2 is the accounting officer of the body and must be privy to any and all financial decisions made by the federation.”

Article 8.7.2 also “made the secretary-general the custodian of all documents (which must include the PUMA contract), properties (which must also include all kits and equipments supplied by Puma to the federation as part of its contractual obligations) and records.”

On February 13, 2020, Puma had in a letter to the ministry of sports and youth development confirmed it signed an agreement on July 24, 2019, with Gusau and Adeleye to sponsor the Nigerian track and field team and that it has met all its financial obligations to the federation.