Ofiligate and Others: Sports Minister, Permanent Secretary, FEAD Head to appear before investigative panel

Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh tops the list of the first set of respondents that will appear before the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics Investigative Committee on Thursday, 3rd October 2024 at the Media Center of the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja from 11.00am.

Also billed to appear before the panel are the Federal Ministry of Sports Development Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Tinuke Watti Olumide Bamiduro, who heads the Federation of Elite Athletes Department of the sports ministry.

This information was disclosed to the media in a statement signed by Barrister Victor Okangbe who is the Secretary to the panel.

The 7-member investigative committee was set up by Enoh on September 25, 2024 to investigate the negative exposures Nigeria was subjected to at the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympic Games.

The committee, according to Enoh, is saddled with the responsibility of revisiting the issues that exposed the nation inappropriately, including the omission of Favour Ofili’s name from the women’s 100m event despite the athlete fulfilling all conditions set by World Athletics and the Athletics Federation of Nigeria.

The Committee is headed by Dr Mumuni Alao while other members and secretary of the committee are as follows; Aliyu Mohammed, Hajia Rakiya Muhammed, Godwin Enakhena, Dr Abubakar Ango, Nnene Akudo and Barr Okangbe.

Enoh revealed the members were carefully selected and believes they are men and women who have their honour and integrity to protect and also revealed why it was necessary to revisit the ugly issues almost two months after.

‘Selected sports enthusiasts with a reputation to protect make up this committee, they are not from the Sports Ministry or any of the groups involved in the execution of the just concluded games because we want blame to be apportioned to those who should be blamed, and consequences earned.

‘If we must pave a way forward, we must not sweep these issues under the carpet,’ Enoh wrote on his X page after inaugurating the committee.