BY SUNDAY AKINTOYE
Sports Entrepreneur and Chairman Gombe State Athletics Association, Alhaji Ahmed Shuaibu Gara-Gombe has explained why he petitioned Economic Financial Crime Commission, EFCC over alleged financial improprieties in the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the Director General of National Sports Commission (NSC) Honourable Bukola Olopade’s involvement.
Gara Gombe disclosed that he took the petition to EFCC due to inability of AFN to give proper explanation how funds were spent at a particular period but of time.
“Having not been satisfied with the explanations offered and also not satisfied with the position taken by AFN itself, I want an independent body to investigate the AFN financial activities. That’s the reason for the petition to EFCC”
Speaking to journalists recently in Abuja,Gombe said he issued a statement to a letter received from the lawyers of Hon. Bukola Olopade the NSC DG and giving him seven days ultimatum to delete, apologize and retract a statement he allegedly made against their client (Olopade) in the social media about an on-going petition with the EFCC.
“I sent the letter to my lawyers who studied and advised accordingly and in response to their letter, I said, Let’s meet in court, I am not going to retract, delete or apologize.It is more than one month now and I have not heard from them”
The former Gombe football Association Chairman insisted that the mistake Olopade and his lawyers made was that “I did nothing to defame him. Olopade was under investigation and I want the public to know I am not going to compromise on this matter and Hon. Olopade should understand that I have no problem with him, rather he created problems between us, the petition did not mention his name.
“As a stakeholder, and a member of the Congress of Athletics Federation of Nigeria, I have the rights to demand for financial statements of the federation.I did not petition them as Chairman Gombe State Athletics Association, I petitioned as Chairman of a Non-governmental Organisation (NGO) recognised by law.One of our mandates is to ensure accountability, transparency and good governance in athletics and other sports in Nigeria.This also includes any stakeholder and organisations, we have the rights under the law to bring such persons to book for national interest,”he said.
Gara Gombe revealed that Olopade is now in trouble by inviting and instructed his lawyers to send him such letter.
” I hope, I will not consume him. Before then, he has been sending private messages to me. I have a message where Hon.Olopade invited me to a meeting. I didn’t even have his number, but when I asked who is this,he mentioned his name and asked me for a meeting.
“I gave him time and where we can meet based on his request, he kept me waiting for two weeks. When I asked him why was he keeping me waiting, he said, he thought I am the one to call him back.I told him no, you are getting it wrong, you are a public servant. Don’t behave that way. Olopade also threatened me in a message, but I kept it, there would be a time to let it out.If Olopade thinks too high about himself, I am not afraid of you people”
“For over 25 years in sports, I have not been afraid of threats on my life.My conscience is very clear, anybody in the sports sector who feels Gara Gombe must be silenced, you are making a huge mistake.
This is a gathering storm, hope it won’t consume everybody.
Again, my petition to EFCC was not pointing at Hon. Olopade.”he stated.
Gara Gombe however said the petition was actually directed at AFN President Tonobok Okowa and former Secretary, Rita Mosindi.
“These are the two people, but there’s no way these two would be investigated without Olopade’s involvement as an agent to the federation. At the time this happened, you were the substantive Managing Director of Nilayo Sports Marketing Company and you can’t deny it,” he said.
Hon. Gara- Gombe also discussed and revealed more facts behind his petition against AFN.
“Immediately, the former AFN scribe, Rita Mosindi was removed, the AFN had gone back to same old ways.The new secretary sent State Athletics Association letters for registration/subscription and asking them to make payments or dues into a private bank account.
This is a secretary that was just posted recently to AFN and they have started giving him different orientation,”he said.
Gombe said his State Athletics Association under his watch will not pay a dime into any private account.
“If they like, they should refuse registering Gombe in any competition then, they would see problem, we are ready to pay, definitely not into a private account. We have continued to emphasize that AFN doesn’t have an account, instead of opening one, they are directing members to put money in a private account.
“Let me remind our readers again, the AFN Congress in Asaba was an illegal one, decisions taken there cannot stand, because I raised that issue, I was removed from the platform of Athletics Association Chairmen till today. AFN made a costly mistake by delisting me , like I said, something will happen in athletics federation of Nigeria very soon,” said Gara Gombe who is ready for Olopade next action.
He cautioned the NSC DG to desist from calling him, saying that his threat cannot stop him from withdrawing his petitions at EFCC.
“I have warned Olopade not to call me again and I hope he would stop. I can tell you there’s no expiring date to justice. The way things are going, it may even consume NSC itself. The NSC as presently constituted is operating illegally. The Act establishing NSC says it must have a board, right now, there is no board. We have those operating as sole administrators with clashing functions. Where is the board, even people there want to operate as executive chairman, but the law subsists until it is amended.
“At the moment, it has not been amended. There has been serious campaign to make someone an executive chairman, but if that happens, what would be the function of the DG who supposed to be the NSC head of administration.
“The Chairman and board should be at a distance to allow the DG formulate policies to drive NSC, as it is, everyone is a sole administrator. Is it how the sports economy is going to run? Any decision NSC takes now is illegal without a board and could be challenged in court,” said Gombe who advocated for drastic change in AFN.
