AFN Board Members To Boycott Meeting Over Threat, Short Notice

Some members of the Executive Board of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, say they will boycott Saturday’s meeting of the Federation over a voice note threatening Victor Okorie, the federation’s Performance Director, of dire consequences if he fails to detach himself from board members who are insisting on transparency, accountability and professionalism in the running of the Federation.

Tonobok Okowa, President of the AFN sent the voice note to Okorie following the audit committee report which asked Okowa to return the 40m naira he was paid as refund from the Premium Trust Bank Sponsorship money for the four events he sponsored as President of the AFN.

The audit committee report says there was no agreement that the money Okowa spent was a loan to the Federation and that the events he sponsored were not covered by the sponsorship agreement with Premium Trust Bank.

The agreement was signed days after the last competition sponsored by Okowa was held.

In the voice note, Okorie, an African Games silver medallist in the 400m hurdles, was told he would lose his place as the head of the Performance sub-committee if he fails to retrace his steps.

‘Victor let me tell you, you are supporting all THESE people, don’t forget I am going to do all the committees (reconstitution of all AFN sub-committees), I am not going to have the Performance (sub) committee anymore.

‘We are only going to have the technical (sub) committee. That’s exactly what’s going to happen since you have decided to fight,’ Okowa said in the voice note which has gone viral.

Our correspondent reliably gathered from Sports Ministry sources that the threat was reported to John Enoh, the Sports Minister but no action seems to have been taken yet.

Tafida Gadzama, AFN first Vice President confirmed the Sports Minister was notified of the threat and they are still waiting for him to take action as they view Okowa’s action as dictatorial.

‘We have lost confidence in Okowa’s ability to lead the board and cannot sit at a meeting with him when he thinks he is superior to others on the board,’ said Gadzama, an Olympic and African Games gold medalist.

Rosa Collins, the AFN second Vice President also told our correspondent that Saturday’s meeting was convened less than 24 hours before the meeting and a lot of them have business appointments while some have flights to catch at the fixed time.

‘The last time we told Okowa not to treat us as if we are kids by convening the meeting of December 31, 2023 with less than 16 hours notice. I thought he should have learnt he is leading a board of distinguished men and women, of Olympic and African Games medalists and not the Delta State Sports Commission,’ said Collins, the first woman to win the triple jump gold in the history of the African Games.

Six board members have confirmed they will boycott the meeting.