Gara Gombe Calls for Suspension of AFN Elections Over Alleged Irregularities

Veteran sports administrator and Chairman of Gombe State Athletics Association, Ahmed Shuaibu Gara Gombe, has called for the immediate suspension of the ongoing elections into the board of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), citing widespread irregularities and lack of transparency.

Gara Gombe, a former adviser on sports to the governors of both Kano and Gombe States and ex-chairman of Gombe United FC, made the call on Saturday in a statement issued to journalists.

According to him, the current electoral process is fundamentally flawed due to the absence of a certified and endorsed AFN constitution, exclusion of key stakeholders, and attempts to suppress legal challenges to the outcome of the election.

"I am a member of the AFN Congress, and I can confirm that no constitution has ever been adopted in any congress I have attended. The so-called Anambra 2017 and Abuja 2023 constitutions are shrouded in doubts regarding their legitimacy," he stated.

He further explained that efforts to harmonize the AFN constitution in Abuja after two separate congresses were inconclusive, leaving the federation without a unified, legally binding document.

Gara Gombe also accused the AFN of procedural violations in convening congresses in Asaba, Bayelsa, as well as in the arrangements for the elections scheduled for May, describing them as unconstitutional and lacking due process.

He expressed concern over the conditions attached to nomination forms for board aspirants, especially a clause barring candidates from challenging election results in court.

"This is undemocratic and legally questionable. It violates the rights of aspirants and undermines the credibility of the entire process," he added.

Citing a recent administrative blunder where Nigerian athletes missed the World Relays in China due to lapses in visa application delays, Gara Gombe blamed administrative inefficiency and called for a complete overhaul of the AFN’s leadership structure.

Recommendations

He proposed the following:

1. Suspension of the ongoing AFN elections.

2. Appointment of a neutral caretaker committee to run the affairs of the federation for six months.

3. Facilitation of a transparent constitutional adoption process.

4. Reconstitution of a legitimate congress and electoral committee as stipulated by the (yet-to-be-validated) constitution.

Gara Gombe warned that proceeding with the current electoral arrangement would only worsen the credibility crisis in Nigerian sports and make it impossible for newly elected officials to function effectively.

"What we need is not just a change of name from Ministry to Commission, but a complete mindset shift. Sports reform must begin with transparency and accountability," he concluded.

Athletics: NGO issues 14- day Ultimatum to MTN, MoC, Nilayo, AFN, Others to Pay Athletes or Face Litigation

The hierachy of Athletics and Other Sports Development Initiative, an NGO reputed in fighting for athletes welfare and transperency in sports have issued a 14-day ultimatum to MTN, Making of Champions, Nilayo sports marketing company, AFN and Premium Trust Bank to quickly facilitate athletes payments to winners of the Marathon races they sponsored and organized.

In a strong statement issued by the Chairman, CEO and Board of Trustees of Athletics and Other Sports Development Initiative Hon Ahmed Shuaibu Gara Gombe aveered that it is criminal for companies to collect funds from sponsors for competitions and refused to pay athletes their cash prices.

An NGO registered by law to promote accountability,  transperency and good governance and to ensure the welfare of athletes, sportsmen, coaches, officials in the sports industry without limitation cannot watch while athletes are allegedly openly robbed and short changed.

The NGO is therefore, calling on the aforementioned  business brands, Agencies to urgently facilitate the payment of Athletes as they have only 14 days to clarify reasons winners of these events and participating athletes, some of whom are foreign athletes from  Kenya, Ethiopia, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda etc.. have not been paid or received their cash prices for over one year and more after the competition was held.

Fortunately, eyewitness account of open confessions by affected athletes both local and foreign are already in our custody.

"Sadly, the name of Nigeria is been tagged as 419 county because they took part in the competitions and have not been paid.

Nigeria athletes who they described as Local athletes have also not been paid.

Some were paid in bits , others have not been paid fully.

Some since 2021-2022 some were  paid for one year, others within the period of six months and one year have not been paid.

We,  at this juncture are calling on the Sponsors and organizers to within 14 days pay these athletes or face civil litigation leading to criminal prosecution,  because it is criminal to collect money for an event, organize it and not pay winners and participants.

We are again calling on the Sponsoring companies to always scrutinize these organizers for transperency and accountability."

The Statement further read thus:.

"Incidentally, MTN, a Telecommunication Company and sponsor of Making of Champions (MoC) athletics events last year (2024) in Jos,  where Plateau, Gombe and other states participated and won medals yet have not been paid their winning prices.

MoC made promises to them on Transportation, logistics and Feeding etc. We were reliably informed that MTN have settled the MoC, the organisers, and a certain Deji Aliu was allegedly responsible for the act of omission.

We give MTN/MoC 14 days to clarify their positions, else, we will approach the Court on this matter".

Secondly, Winners of the 10km Abeokuta Marathon event organized by Nilayo Marketing company under Bukola Olopade have not been paid.

Thirdly, the Abuja half  Marathon  21km, sponsored by Premium Trust Bank organized by same Nilayo Marketing company under Bukola Olopade now Director General of National Sports Commission (NSC) winners both local and foreign athletes are yet to collect their winning cash prices.

Curiously, the Abuja international Marathon 41km which have Kenyans, Ethiopians etc, winners have not been paid, in fact,  this one is painful because outside Nigeria, it has been condemnation all through, describing the country and its  people as unreliable and 419 County.

Heritage half Marathon 21km organized by Nilayo Marketing company under Bukola Olopade between 2021-2022, athletes remain unpaid.

We are calling on all organizers including the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) who owes and regulates the competitions to state how much this organizers paid to AFN as the federation is entitled to certain percentage of revenue from all Marathons organized in Nigeria.

We also demand to know which bank account AFN paid the money expectedly collected from sponsors of these Marathon events. 

Sponsors who have been dolling out funds to organizers without accountability would be joined in the suit to account for their credibility.

Athletes must receive their rewards, Cash and other prizes for their hard work.

We can't sit and watch athletes being robbed or short-changed, that was what brought down the credibility and trust between the corporate world and sports industry in Nigeria.

We repeat, You have 14 days to react or face litigation in an unprecedented manner from our stable"

EFCC dragged to Court over refusal to investigate AFN President, former Scribe Mosindi and NSC DG, Olopade

The Federal High Court in Abuja has been asked to compel the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) to investigate the petition filed by a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) Incorporated Trustees of Athletics and Other Sports Development Initiative over allegation of misappropriation, diversion of funds.

Further in its petition the NGO alleged corruption in the AFN levelled against the AFN President, Tonobok Okowa, former Secretary General, Rita Mosindi, and Bukola Olopade who is now the Director General of the National Sports Commission, NSC.

In the writ of summons made available to our correspondent, the plaintiff is seeking a declaration by the Federal High Court that, in pursuant to section 6 (b) and (h) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004, the EFCC (the first defendant) has a mandatory duty to investigate all reported cases of economic and financial crimes.

The plaintiff is also seeking the leave of the court to declare that the EFCC's failure to conduct and conclude investigations on his petition dated 15th April 2024 is a dereliction of EFCC's statutory duty.  

The plaintiff is therefore seeking an order compelling the EFCC to commence and conclude investigations on his Petition as well as order compelling the AFN (second defendant) to assist the EFCC in the investigation of its Petition.

Also, the plaintiff is seeking an order of the Federal High Court to suspend Okowa and Mosindi as President and Secretary General from their offices during the period of the investigations as well as another order compelling Olopade to step aside as Director General of NSC during the period of the investigations and 'until such time the EFCC concludes its investigations on the Petition.

In its statement of claim, the Incorporated Trustees of Athletics and Other Sports Development Initiative, relying on the Audit Committee Report by the AFN and the Contractual Agreement between the AFN and Premium Trust Bank published in the Audit Committee Report, wants the EFCC to investigate why N70m was reportedly paid to AFN despite having a N100m a year contractual agreement with the AFN.

It claims this is contrary to the terms of agreement between the AFN and Premium Trust Bank which says the sponsorship money should be deposited in a special account set up for the purpose of the agreement and that it is from there payment of any of sort, including the N30m yearly commission to Olopade whose company, Nilayo Sports Management Company, acted as consultant to the AFN.

'During the performance of this Agreement, the Sponsor (Premium Trust Bank) has no financial obligation to Broker. The Broker shall be entitled to a yearly fee/commission which shall be paid through the SPV account to the tune of agreed percentage between AFN and the broker (Nilayo),' read article 4.11 of the Agreement. 

The Incorporated Trustees of Athletics and Other Sports Development Initiative also wants the EFCC to investigate how AFN president, Okowa paid himself (as the approving authority as contained in the AFN Constitution, 2017 and 2023 as amended) N40m for a purported loan he gave to the Federation without any agreement signed to that effect and which the (former) Secretary General confirmed in the Audit Report.

'There was no written agreement, but it was discussed in one of the Board meetings, that since there was delay in starting the competitions for the year, the President could fund some of the competitions to kickstart the activities of the year and will be reimbursed,' Mrs Mosindi (Secretary General) wrote in response to the AFN Audit Committee query but failed to provide the Minutes of the Meeting where it was mentioned and dicussed.

The purported loan was spent before the signing of the Agreement and article 3.1 was clear on what the sponsorship fee was meant for: 'The events shall cover all AFN organized or participated programs as agreed and designated by the AFN and the Sponsor.

It wants the EFCC to investigate which bank account the N70m was paid into by the broker (Nilayo Sports Management) since the (former) Secretary General admitted in writing in the Audit Report that the Special Bank Account as contained in the Agreement was yet to be opened.

' An SPV account is still underway to warehouse the Premium Trust money, we are still working on it with the Consultant to finalize the opening of the account,' Mrs Mosindi also wrote in another response to a query by the AFN Audit Committee after the N70m has been paid into an unknown account and spent.

Article 4.4 of the Agreement was clear on this: 'During the performance of this Agreement, an SPV account must be opened with Broker (Nilayo) and AFN as signatories.'

The Plaintiff says it was forced to take this action in furtherance of one of its registered objectives which is 'to initiate actions in public interest and welfare of Sports men and women in Nigeria.'

Hon. Ahmed Shuaibu Gara Gombe is the Chairman, Board of Trustees of Athletics and Other Sports Development Initiatives

NSC, AFN officials poor attitude towards individual sponsored competitions worry stakeholders

 

Sports Stakeholders  across all sectors have frowned at the National Sports Commission (NSC)  and the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) officials over their non challant attitude by not attending Competitions organised and sponsored by individual when invited.

During a media chat, Stakeholders noted that these national sports  agencies and their heads hardly attend privately sponsored sports  programme when invited.

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These views were expressed at the opening ceremony of the 5-day Gombe Inter-secondary School Athletics Championships at Pantami Stadium on Tuesday.

Speaking further, the organiser and sponsor of the Championship Hon. Ahmed Shuaibu Gara Gombe regretted that concerned individuals would spend their hard earned funds to organise competitions invite the NSC and AFN officials and they won't attend.

Aside stakeholders saying they will officially table the matter before NSC and AFN hierarchy, Hon.Gara Gombe maintained that those governing sports at the national level seem not to care about individual sponsorship of sports Competitions because they will not benefit.

Gombe said, "This attitude is not limited to those at the national level, adding that at the State level, it is worse, they won't even send a representative". 

"How then would the private sector be encouraged to assist in sports sponsorship to help young talents grow in Nigeria, Gombe queries