HighlightSports

$1m bribe: Apologise in a week or face legal action, Sports Minister Enoh tells Bash Alli

"He will have just one week to do this; the failure to do this on his part will leave me with no option but to approach the courts to both clear my name and seek damages"

699

The Minister of Sports Development, Sen. John Enoh, has said that he never demanded $1 million to endorse Bash Alli’s plan to stage what he calls the oldest boxing fight in Nigeria.

Persecondnews recalls that in a viral video, the retired boxer allegedly claimed in an ‘Open letter to President Bola Tinubu that Sports Minister John Owan Enoh demanded “For Another US$1M” one million dollars from him in order to endorse his plan to stage what he calls the oldest boxers’ fight in Nigeria.

Reacting to Alli’s allegations, the minister said Alli has “redeployed this hydra-headed monster and gone overboard because past ministers perhaps treated him and his wild allegations with kid gloves.”

He noted that before he was appointed Minister of Sports Development, Bash Alli had sought “to mindlessly impugn the character and reputation of some of my predecessors in office, without any shred of evidence.”

Enoh said: “When Bash Alli released his video and open letter to the President with the sole aim to defame and destroy my reputation and integrity, some friends and associates advised that I totally ignore him and his blackmail gambit.

“They believe that by responding to Bash Alli and his vile campaign of calumny, I will validate and bring him to the limelight.

“After a deep reflection, I have come to the inevitable conclusion that to ignore him will be a profound mistake. My reason for this is twofold.

“First, the perception in the public domain is that those in the public service are either thieves or kleptomaniacs who mindlessly pillage our Commonwealth. This assumption, no matter how widely held, is not true.

“Despite our challenges as a nation, there are men and women who continue to serve our country with honesty, integrity, and patriotism. I AM ONE OF SUCH. Secondly, ignoring Bash Alli and his tradition of deploying blackmail and gutter tactics now will further embolden and enable him to continue in his usual trajectory even after I have served out my mandate as minister of sports, without consequences.”

The minister described the allegations of Alli as manufactured lies, pointing out that “his spurious allegation suffers from fatal deformity and is based on the erroneous impression that the government in Nigeria is a cash cow.”

Enoh added: “His allegation that I demanded “another 1 million dollars” as if I had received a first tranche of one million dollars from him,or perhaps any of my predecessors had done so, is a manufactured lie from the pit of hell.

“At no point in time did I demand any form of gratification from Bash Alli. The questions to ask are these: One million dollars from where?

“If Bash Alli had one million dollars, why has he not staged his fight? His spurious allegation suffers from fatal deformity and is based on the erroneous impression that the government in Nigeria is a cash cow at the mercy of public servants to pillage at will.

“Let me be clear. Bash Alli desperately wanted to meet me in my very early days as Minister of Sports Development, when I had hardly settled down on the job.

“In the deluge of his desperate attempts, I decided to meet him against the advice of the staff of the Ministry, who were familiar with his character and antics.

“Against their advice,I decided to meet him out of respect for his age and based on the open-door policy with which I am currently leading the ministry.

“Conscious of the advice of some key staff of the Ministry,I sought to insulate myself and the office from any blackmail that may emanate from this meeting by making sure that my team was present at the meeting.

“He presented the issue of his pet project, and I told him to be patient while I get more briefings from the ministry. All my life, the said meeting was the first and only time I ever met Bash Alli.

“There were no follow-ups after that one-off meeting, and I did not introduce any of my aides to him. After the said meeting, I politely refused to meet with him to this day in spite of his numerous requests and pressures. His incessant messages to me will speak to his desperation.

“Bash Alli’s plan to stage his boxing fight in Nigeria has a long history spanning almost two decades. To achieve this personal aspiration, he has deployed all manner of strategies, including naked blackmail and underhand tactics, in his desperate effort to arm-twist the Federal Government to spend upwards of $50m USD to stage his fight.

“Successive Ministers of Sports have rightly told him that his plan to stage this fight is not the responsibility of the government but a business that should be executed by the private sector.

“In concluding this statement, gentlemen of the press, I sincerely believe that, in spite of our numerous challenges, our country still has a soul.

“Our humanity will be irretrievably destroyed the day we lose our soul. Bash Alli’s desperate and unprovoked withering attack on me is an attack on decency, honesty, and integrity. The move to clear my name has just started, and there will be no let-up until I achieve this sacred mission.”

“In addition to other remedies under the ambit of the law, I have instructed my lawyer to write Bash Alli demanding an immediate public retraction of his allegations and to render a public apology.

“He will have just one week to do this; the failure to do this on his part will leave me with no option than to approach the courts to both clear my name and seek damages,” Enoh also stated.

Leave a comment

Related Articles

NNPC Ltd. hosts NSC boss, pledges support for revitalization of Nigerian football

In a significant move to boost Nigerian football, the Nigerian National Petroleum...

Nigerian youths essential to repositioning Africa, says VP Shettima

Vice President Kashim Shettima has reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to youth...

Just in: Simon Ekpa ‘ll be extradited to Nigeria to face charges – Defence Headquarters

The Nigerian Defence Headquarters, Abuja, has announced plans to extradite Simon Ekpa,...

NPA’s CEO Dantsoho Makes History as First Nigerian Chairman of PMAWCA

In a groundbreaking achievement, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, Managing Director of the Nigerian...

Save for rainy day, Federal Accountant General urges state govts, emphasizes transparency, accountability

In a bid to ensure financial stability during adverse situations and economic...

Sacked UNIZIK VC Odoh to Tinubu: You can’t fire me through press release

Sacked Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), in Awka, Anambra State, Prof....

UBA to empower MSME’s with wealth management strategies at its ‘Built to Last’ series

As part of its commitment to deepen the growth and sustainability of...

Olopade assumes office as NSC DG, promises new lease of life for Nigerian sports

Bukola Olopade had assumed office as the Director General of the resuscitated...

Amid High Inflation Rate, IMF Pledges Support for Nigeria’s Economic Reforms

International Monetary Fund (IMF) President Kristalina Georgieva and her team met with...

Nigeria’s Super Falcons Ajibade, Nnadozie, Nominated for 2024 CAF Women’s Player of the Year

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the nominees for the...

Just in: FG announces reshuffle of governing councils at FUOYE, Kogi varsity

The Federal Government has made changes to the governing councils of Federal...

Exclusive: Eguavoen Opens Up on Declining NFF Contract Extension, Reveals Reasons

Super Eagles Coach, Austin Eguavoen, has revealed why he declined the Nigeria...

Boost for Nigeria’s Oil Production As NNPC’s Utapate Crude Grade Hits Global Oil Market

In a major boost for Nigeria’s crude oil production, revenue generation, and...

Just in: FG sacks varsity Pro-Chancellor for misconduct

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has announced the removal of...

Just in: INEC presents Certificates of Return to Ondo Gov. Aiyedatiwa, deputy

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has presented Certificates of Return to...

Breaking: Senate sacks Danladi Umar, Code of Conduct Tribunal chairman  

Following proven allegations of gross misconduct and unacceptable behaviour, the Senate on...

Just in: South Africa takes over G20 Presidency from Brazil, first African nation to lead the bloc

South Africa has taken over the presidency of the G20 from Brazil,...

Tinubu submits 3 INEC REC, federal commissioner-nominees for Senate’s approval

President Bola Tinubu has sent the name of Ondo Resident Electoral Commissioner,...

Just in: After a night in custody, DSS in Ogun releases Ladi Adebutu

Mr. Ladi Adebutu, the 2023 People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in...