The adjudicatory chamber of FIFA’s independent Ethics Committee has opened formal adjudicatory proceedings against Amos Adamu, a former member of the CAF and FIFA Executive Committees.
A press statement from FIFA’s Media Office on Tuesday said this action was based on the final report submitted by the investigatory chamber.
The investigations against Adamu, conducted by Cornel Borbély, chairman of the investigatory chamber of the Ethics Committee, were opened on March 9, 2015.
It will be recalled that the final report was passed to the adjudicatory chamber on Dec. 2.
In the final report, the investigatory chamber recommends a sanction of a two-year ban from all football-related activities (administrative, sports and any other) and a fine of CHF 20,000.
These are for violations of articles 13, 15 and 19 of the FIFA Code of Ethics (FCE).
The adjudicatory chamber, under its chairman, Hans-Joachim Eckert, has now studied the report carefully and decided to institute formal adjudicatory proceedings against Adamu.
In the course of the proceedings, the former president of the West African Football Union (WAFU) will be invited to submit his position.
This will include any evidence with regard to the final report of the investigatory chamber, as per article 70 paragraph 2 of the FCE.
“He may even request a hearing, as per article 74 paragraph 2 of the FCE,’’ the statement said.
It added that the adjudicatory chamber would however not publish further details about the matter at the present time.
“These are for reasons linked to privacy rights and the presumption of innocence until proven guilty,’’ the statement said.
The 62-year-old was a member of Fifa’s executive committee for four years until 2010, when he was banned from all football activity for three years.
He was found guilty of asking for money in exchange for World Cup votes – an accusation he denied.
Adamu’s suspension expired in October 2013.
A high-ranking government official for Nigerian sport for 20 years, Adamu was once considered to be a leading candidate to succeed long-serving Issa Hayatou as Caf president.
