Disgraced Fifa Executive Committee member, Amos Adamu has warned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC to put the brakes on its plans to prosecute him, pending the outcome of his appeal against the decision of the Fifa Ethics Committee.

He also warned the commission to desist from making ‘frivolous statements’ that might be pre-emptive and prejudicial to his appeal process.

Adamu was last month handed a three-year ban from all football-related activity, and fined 10 000 Swiss francs after being outed in a cash for World Cup bid votes sting orchestrated by UK newspaper The Times.

On the basis of that decision, the EFCC, Nigeria’s anti-corruption watchdog, made it clear he would be investigated and prosecuted. But Adamu says the move is premature.

Sayo Odumosu, Adamu’s legal counsel, stated in a petition to EFCC boss Mrs Farida Waziri, that prosecuting his client in Nigeria would amount to double jeopardy.

“It is common knowledge that our client was alleged to have offered to sell his vote by FIFA. Consequently, FIFA set up a quasi-judicial and fact finding panel by its Ethics Committee to investigate the allegation levelled against our client, an executive member of the organisation.

“Surprisingly, and to our client’s chagrin, your organisation, the EFCC, had made several frivolous statements to the press bearing on the allegation which was never established by then but casting aspersion on the person of our client in the public court.”

He stated that the EFCC should not be seen to be judgmental and presenting a verdict of guilt in the public domain to the superior FIFA body as the appeal was still part of the investigation process.

According to him, the documents requested by the commission are subject to review at the appeal, making the EFCC’s planned action premature.

Odumosu said, “The bundle of the judgment is still subject to review. Appeal is the continuation of what happened during the first trial. If Adamu succeeds in his appeal, what happens?

“If your answer is in the affirmation in this regard, then it becomes a responsibility on your part to ensure that the utterances from your organisation should be guided and not conclusive as being made according to the press.

“That is why the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission should not jump the gun.”