‘Onikeku never told me about the ‘hint’ and ‘rumour’ he heard over Ofili’s non-registration for Paris 2024 Olympics 100m event’, says AFN SG

Rita Mosindi, the Secretary General of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, has revealed Samuel Onikeku, a Chief Superintendent of Customs, did not inform her of the ‘hint’ and ‘rumour’ he heard that Favour Ofili was not registered for the 100m event at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Mosindi, indicted for her negligence and recommended for sanction by the Investigative Committee set up by former Sports Development Minister, John Owan Enoh to investigative Nigeria’s negative exposure at the quadrennial games which included the non-registration of Ofili for the 100m event despite qualifying to compete, made the revelation in her testimony to the Committee.

The Investigative Committee revealed this much in its recommendations which was approved for publication by Enoh’s successor, Mallam Shehu Dikko who is now the Chairman of the National Sports Commission.

The Investigative Committee wrote thus: ‘In fact, the AFN Secretary General expressed surprise when the Technical Director reconfirmed the “hint” and “rumour” that he heard to our committee. The Secretary General said the Technical Director never told her about it.

‘Technical Director Samuel Onikeku is a Chief Superintendent of Customs, a senior officer in the Nigerian Customs Service. He said he didn’t report what he heard about Ofili’s omission because he didn’t want to be involved in any trouble and that, as a para-Military officer, he only obeys the command that he is given.’

The Committee regards Onikeku’s action as one unbecoming of position both as AFN Technical Director and a Chief Superintendent of Customs.

‘Our committee is strongly of the view that the AFN Technical Director made a POOR JUDGEMENT by not reporting such an important “hint” or “rumour” about his own athlete’s omission from an Olympic Games event, even if only to cross-check its veracity or otherwise,’ the Committee wrote.