The President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Ibrahim Gusau was on Tuesday impeached by the board following his alleged role in the missing $135, 000 erroneously paid to the country two years ago by world athletics body, IAAF.

Gusau was reportedly impeached by seven out of the 12 board members of the AFN inside the Abuja office of the country’s Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung.

At the meeting, Dalung revealed that he also approved the sum of ₦39 million to Gusau to be refunded to the IAAF shortly after the Asaba 2018 African Senior Athletics Championships.

Instead of following the minister’s directives, Gusau and the AFN’s Technical Director, Sunday Adeleye allegedly used the money to purchase kits for Nigerian athletes without informing other board members.

One of the board members, Brown Ebewele told reporters shortly after the meeting that they decided to sweep Gusau aside to enable the board carry out proper investigation into the circumstances surrounding the missing funds.

His words: “Seven of us signed the letter asking Gusau to step aside. One of the board members, Fidelis Gadzama had been in the United Kingdom since we came on board, meaning only 12 of us have been active.

“Sunday Adeleye was here but he refused to sign the letter. We have the consent of other board members and we are conscious of the rules. We are also conscious that the AFN is under a supervising ministry.

“We are going into another meeting now to set up a committee that will investigate how Gusau and a few people in the AFN spent the IAAF money.”

Asked if Nigeria had refunded the money as the deadline given by the IAAF expired on Tuesday, Ebewele replied: “Yes, the Sports Minister has communicated with the President of IAAF on the issue and they reached an agreement. The IAAF is no longer sanctioning Nigeria.”