Two Cross River State Sporting Commission officials have been fired and detained for allegedly stealing sports equipment from UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar.
The apparatus, which included 72 discus and 133 short puts at the U.J. Esuene Stadium, was reportedly valued hundreds of millions of Naira.
The incident allegedly occurred last month, but the names of the two dismissed security personnel have not been made public.
Chairman of the Cross River State Sports Commission, Emmanuel Elom, confirmed the dismissal and arrest of the duo.
He revealed that the sporting goods were purchased during the previous governor Liyel Imoke’s term in office.
“These equipment were meant for the National Sports Festival which Cross River State got the hosting rights but could not host due to paucity of funds, and was later taken to Edo State.”
The chairman said the police are on top of the situation.
Chief Security Officer (CSO) at the stadium, William Anderson said measures taken to dismiss the two security officials without finding them guilty in a Court of law was normal since they are casual workers.
He called for proper investigations to be carried out to bring the culprits to Justice.
He added, “This is an organised crime. The sports equipment was not taken in one day”.
Stadium manager, Mike Andotant who also confirmed the development, said, “it’s somebody that knows about the usefulness of the equipment that stole it. It is a group something. For us to lose 133 Short puts and 72 discus is not a one-day something. I think the stadium security did not do their job properly.”
