3 hours ago
5 ARTICLE AD
The Interim President of the Nigeria Boxing Federation, Azania Omo-Agege, has called for a public hearing at the National Assembly over the federation’s controversial affiliation with World Boxing without proper consultation with stakeholders, The PUNCH reports.
Speaking with our correspondent on Tuesday, Omo-Agege demanded that former NBF president Kenneth Minimah appear before lawmakers to explain the federation’s decision to join a new international body without board members’ approval or the sports ministry’s consent.
“Let them come and explain to Nigerians how they will take the Nigeria Boxing Federation to a boxing association that supports transgender athletes which is against our constitution without properly consulting with board members and stakeholders,” Omo-Agege said.
The development is the latest twist in the leadership crisis rocking the NBF, following Minimah’s 90-day suspension by the International Boxing Association in November 2023 for allegedly breaching its constitution.
The crisis deepened when Omo-Agege, who was vice president at the time, discovered Nigeria’s affiliation with World Boxing without a board meeting.
Omo-Agege revealed his interaction with NOC President Habu Gumel regarding the controversial move to World Boxing.
“I asked President Gumel if he was are of the decision by Minimah to join World Boxing. He told me that Minimah came to meet him about joining World Boxing, and he told them it was fine as long as the federation and board members approved,” he said.
“However, there was no congress to decide this move, and they acted without approval from the sports ministry. Let them provide approval letters from the ministry if they have any. And the NOC does not have the right to authorise a sports federation to go to another body without permission from the sports minister.”
The interim president called for a comprehensive investigation into the matter, suggesting the involvement of various authorities.
“I’m calling for a probe from the National Assembly and also for the President if they could set up a committee privately to look into this issue. I’m also calling on the chairman of the NSC (Shehu Dikko) to open a probe into this illegal decision. Nigeria deserves better than this,” he added.
The absence of clear leadership with separate factions has already impacted Nigeria’s boxing performance, with athletes expressing concerns about preparation and administration. Zainab Adeshina had highlighted these issues during the build-up to Paris 2024.
“There was no proper preparation, and then we did not have adequate equipment for training for this qualifier at all,” Adeshina told our correspondent.
Another boxer, Ifeanyi Onyekwere, echoed similar sentiments; “The preparation was very bad. It was just one-week camp, with a lot of stress in it.”
Technical Director of the NBF, Babatunde Laguda, had previously questioned the decision-making process within the federation, particularly regarding coaching appointments.
“He (Adura Olalehin) does not even have a training gym where he trains boxers. He was just approved under General Kenneth Minimah (retd.),” Laguda said, referring to controversial coaching changes that had affected the federation’s performance.
Coach Olalehin, who was controversially appointed to lead the team to Paris 2024, defended the federation’s decisions to change the national team coach for the Olympics.
“Everyone is saying we failed now, but same coach Tony (Konyegwachie) took the team to multiple Olympics and they only won a medal in 1996, so how was this a poor outing when we had three qualified boxers and only one could compete?” Olalehin argued.
Our correspondent made several attempts to reach Minimah, Gumel and NBF Secretary Dapo Akinleye for comments through calls and text messages, but there was no response from them at the time of filing this report.
However, NOC Spokesperson Tony Nezianya told The PUNCH that the commission is aware of the switch saying, “The NOC is aware that there has been a problem with the IBA, and so we authorized the switch. It is up to the federation to inform the ministry but we at the NOC are aware.”
