SPORTS
Crisis Hits Badminton Federation of Nigeria Over N190m Fund
With barely two weeks to the September 30, National Sports Federation Elections, crisis of confidence has hit the Nigerian Badminton Federation(NBF), following allegations of mismanagement of funds including a N190 million sponsorship deal by the Rivers state government levelled against the immediate past President of the Board.
The immediate past Executive Committee of the Federation led by Francis Orbih, is at the centre of the crisis as the Board President was alleged to have mismanaged funds of the Federation without any modicum of “transparency and accountability for over four years”.
The allegations are contained in a petition addressed to the Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Mr Sunday Dare and copied to the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Sports and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The petition was signed by Mr. Kenneth Azuine, a former international player on behalf of the Concerned Badminton Stakeholders in Nigeria reads.
The petitioner alleged that “All monies released by the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development (FMOY&SD) and other corporate sponsors were not brought to the knowledge of the Board for deliberations and approval as required and clearly stated in the “National Sports Federations Code of Governance 2017” issued by the same Ministry to guide the administrative and financial operations of the Federations.
“Section 4.6.5 is expected to provide all financial statement of income and expenditure to the Board through the Secretary but unfortunately, throughout the over four years of Mr Orbih’s tenure, the Board was in the dark of what transpired financially between the former President and the Ministry of Youth and Sports as well as the Rivers State Government in the Sponsorships of Badminton competitions”
“How much did Rivers State Government release to the Federation for the Africa Senior Badminton Championship, 2019 in Port Harcourt and expenditure details including due process application.
“Speculations have it that the Rivers State Government released N190m to the Federation, which the former President himself admitted in one of the Board meetings without stating expenditure details as demanded by most Board members.
“Records available through the transparency portal of the Accountant-General’s office indicate that the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development released N10m to the Federation on 24th April, 2019 for the Africa Senior Badminton Championship in Port Harcourt and the President instructed the money to be withdrawn in cash for unspecified expenditure without knowledge of the Board.
“The same records indicate that the Board was also given N19m on the 20th March, 2020 at the inception of COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria as part payment for the participation of BFN in the qualifying tournaments in Finland, Poland and Egypt for Tokyo 2020.
“Releases to BFN were also noticed from the same source running into millions of Naira for Italian Inter-Badminton, Millan, Italy and Badminton championship in Egypt and Algeria.
The Petitioner then called on the former President (Mr Francis Orbih) to account for his former stewardship by rendering accounts in the following areas;”How much did the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports release to the BFN for the entire four years of his Presidency and how much of it came to the knowledge of the Board and expenditure details.
“How much did the Federation receive as competition grants/bonuses from Badminton Confederation of Africa (BCA) and Badminton World Federation (BWF) in his four year tenure and expenditure details” the petitioners demanded.
The duo of Mariam Eniola Bolaji and Jeremiah Chigozie have qualified for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games coming up from 28th August to 8th September.
According to the Badminton World Federation, Multiple African Champion, Mariam Bolaji will represent Nigeria in the Women’s Singles Standing Lower 3 (SL3) while Jeremiah Chigozie represents Nigeria in the Men’s Singles Standing Lower 4 (SL4).
An elated Francis Orbih, President of Badminton Federation of Nigeria said the qualification of Mariam Bolaji and Jeremiah Chigozie is a testimony of hard work, consistency and perseverance.
Orbih who was full of joy revealed that Nigeria stands a good chance to make history by winning medals in para badminton in her debut appearance.
He said, “Today, history has been made as two players for the first time will be representing Nigeria in the para badminton event at the Paralympic Games. I am full of joy because the sacrifices of the players and the Federation were not in vain.
“Mariam Bolaji and Jeremiah Chigozie have consistently attended the African Championship winning gold medals in the singles and doubles events. Last month, Mariam Bolaji won two gold medals at the Spanish Internationals in Victoria and Toledo putting her in a better position to make it to the Paralympics; which has become a reality.
“With adequate camping, foreign tours and proper funding, I believe Nigeria will win a medal in the Para Badminton event when we make our debut this year”.
Orbih once again, called on well meaning individuals to support the Badminton Federation of Nigeria in ensuring the athletes get maximum support ahead of the Olympic/Paralympic Games in Paris next August.
He said, “I will not get tired of calling on the Federal Government of Nigeria and the private sector to key into our brand and give more support to the Badminton Federation of Nigeria. We have athletes who are marketable and will sell their brands to the world with their sterling performances”.
Mariam Eniola Bolaji shocked the world by winning her first gold medal at the Spanish Para badminton International 2021 beating Oksana Kozyna from Ukraine.
Bolaji won the women’s singles SL3 at the Uganda Para Badminton International 2023, All African Para Badminton Championship 2023 (Doubles and Mixed Doubles).
She won gold medals at the 5th Fazza Dubai Para Badminton International 2023, Egypt Para Badminton International 2024, World Para Badminton Championship 2024 in Thailand and Spanish Para Badminton International 2024.
Bolaji is also the first African player to be ranked among the top 10 in the BWF world rankings as she is currently ranked number 5 in the world.
Meanwhile, Jeremiah Chigozie won bronze medal at the Uganda Para Badminton International 2023 and three gold medals at African Para Badminton Championship 2023
He played a lesser number of championships compared to Eniola; playing in Egypt, Dubai, and World Championship in Thailand.
Chigozie got to the quarter finals in the men’s singles SL4 category in Thailand and currently ranked number 16 in the recent BWF para Badminton ranking.
President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Nigeria’s table tennis pacesetter, Aruna Quadri, on winning the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Africa Cup title.
Quadri achieved a resounding victory in the final match of the 2024 ITTF Africa Cup in Rwanda, reclaiming his title and sealing his place as Africa’s table tennis champion.
The President commended the table tennis star for his dogged pursuit of excellence even in the face of gnawing obstacles, declaring that the zeal for distinction, the hardiness to succeed, and the inventiveness to solve complex problems are the exceptional qualities that define Nigerians.
The President also noted the recent progress in the nation’s sports sector, with remarkable performances in the African Games, the Africa Cup of Nations, and the World Relay Championships, and emphasized that his administration will continue to foster the growth and development of sports in the country.
The Board of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has appointed Finidi George as Head Coach of the Senior Men National Football Team, the Super Eagles.
A statement by Ademola Olajire, NFF’s Director of Communications, on Monday said the NFF approved the recommendation of its Technical and Development Committee to appoint George.
Reports says that the ace winger spent 20 months as assistant to José Peseiro before the Portuguese voluntarily left the post after guiding the team to silver medal at AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire.
George took charge of the squad in acting capacity during two friendly matches in Morocco last month.
His squad edged Ghana 2-1 in the first match, ending an 18-year winless streak against the Black Stars, but then lost 0-2 to Mali in the second game.
He was a member of the so-styled ‘Golden Generation’ that won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Tunisia.
The team also emerged the second most entertaining team in Nigeria’s debut at the FIFA World Cup finals in USA the same year.
George won 62 caps for Nigeria, including featuring at the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup finals. He also won gold, silver and bronze medals from the 1992, 1994, 2000 and 2002 AFCON tournaments.
The 52-year-old former Ajax Amsterdam (The Netherlands) and Real Betis (Spain) forward made a scoring debut for fatherland in an AFCON qualifying match against Burkina Faso at the National Stadium, Lagos, on July 27, 1991.
He also featured for Calabar Rovers and Sharks FC in the domestic scene before heading to Europe.
He assisted Rashidi Yekini (of blessed memory) to score Nigeria’s first-ever FIFA World Cup goal against Bulgaria in Dallas, USA, on 19th June 1994.
George had actually scored the goal that took Nigeria to that FIFA World Cup debut, when he put Nigeria ahead against hosts Algeria in a crucial qualifier in Algiers on 8th October, 1993.
The match eventually ended 1-1 and earned Nigeria a ticket to the finals in America.
George’s immediate task will be to guide the Super Eagles to victory in two 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against South Africa and Benin Republic in Uyo and Abidjan respectively, in a little over five weeks.
The matches are must-win encounters, with the Super Eagles lagging behind in third place in Group C of the African campaign behind Rwanda and South Africa.(NAN)
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