Adamu case "blown out of proportion" claims Nigerian Minister

By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year

January 26 – Amos Adamu, who is suspended from FIFA’s ruling Executive Committee over corruption allegations, has been unfairly treated, Nigeria’s Sports Minister has claimed.

Adamu was one of two Committee members suspended towards the end of last year following an investigation by the Sunday Times following an investigation into the bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

Adamu, 57, a FIFA Executive Committee member since 2006 who is the director of sports development in his homeland, was banned from all football-related activity for three years and also fined 10,000 francs after he was found guilty of soliciting bribes in exchange for a candidate bid.

The Nigerian Government has launched investigation into Adamu but Taoheed Adedoja claimed, after watching the video transcript, that his involvement had been blown out of proportion.

“As as Nigerian, I believe in the rule of law; so I am uncomfortable with the allegation, the issue was over-blown,” said the Sports Minister.

“I am sending the video and transcript to the Attorney General and Minister of Justice office to study and advise on what to do.

“The video transcript will be made available to Nigerian Government because what was shown was an abridged version and not the full video of what happened.

“We have unedited version of what happened directly from the source, including the transcript”,

Adedoja also claimed that the Sunday Times had acted improperly by videoing Adamu without his permission and that the row reflected badly on the country.

“What happened to Adamu happened to Nigeria,” he said.

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