AFN names Aku Aghazu to Age Discrepancy Probe Panel

Ms. Aku Aghazu, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) second vice president, a government appointee on the board and aide to the Director General of the National Sports Commission, has been drafted into the Special Investigative Committee on Age Discrepancies.

She replaces Mrs. Mbora Ikana, who stepped down citing unavoidable circumstances and a tight schedule.

The appointment has immediately drawn scrutiny, as the committee is charged with probing allegations that Nigerian athletes with multiple dates of birth represented the country at the Africa U18 and U20 Championships in Abeokuta last May.

The federation itself was indicted in the scandal, raising doubts about whether the investigation can be independent when senior AFN officials are themselves members of the panel.

AFN President Tonobok Okowa has already sought to absolve the federation of blame, insisting that responsibility lies with athletes and coaches. His comments have reinforced fears that the probe is designed to shield federation officials rather than hold them accountable.

Critics note that both AFN vice presidents now sit on the committee, alongside other federation insiders, a composition that undermines credibility and strengthens perceptions that the process is being managed to protect the leadership.

Meanwhile, instead of preparing its response to the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) query, due by January 16, the AFN appears more focused on staging what stakeholders describe as a ‘charade’ of a probe panel.

Stakeholders argue they have seen this pattern before and worry that the National Sports Commission, which midwifed the current AFN leadership, has chosen to ‘siddon look,’ issuing empty threats rather than probing why the federation has repeatedly failed to maintain a reliable database of its athletes.

The AIU first queried the AFN last year over age cheating among Nigerian athletes, a practice critics say has been aided by the federation itself.

With the latest developments, concerns remain that the AFN is more intent on protecting its officials than confronting the systemic failures that have left Nigerian athletics mired in controversy.