NEWS
Sports Minister Denies Bash Ali’s Bribery Accusations
Senator John Owan Enoh, Minister of Sports Development, has vehemently denied bribery allegations made by former world boxing champion Bash Ali.
In a letter titled “BASH ALLI AND HIS SERIAL BLACKMAIL MUST BE CONFRONTED AND DEFEATED,” addressed to the press, Enoh rebuffed Ali’s sudden and unfounded criticism, stating that it undermines core values such as decency, honesty, and integrity.
This response comes after Ali’s claims gained attention through a trending video and an open petition to the President.
Ali alleged that Senator Enoh demanded an additional one million dollars to endorse his proposal for hosting what he referred to as the oldest boxers’ fight in Nigeria.
The statement reads “I am constrained to address you today to speak to the trending video and open petition to the President wherein Bash Alli, a former World Boxing Champion threw caution and decency to the wind to allege that I demanded the sum of ‘another ‘1 USD( One million dollars) from him inorder to endorse his plan to stage what he calls the oldest boxers fight in Nigeria.
“When Bash Alli released his video and open letter to the President,with the sole aim to defame and destroy my reputation and integrity, some friends and associates advised that I totally ignore him and his blackmail gambit. They believe that by responding to Bash Alli and his vile campaign of calumy, I will validate and bring him to the limelight.
“After a deep reflection, I have come to the inevitable conclusion that to ignore him will be a profound mistake. My reason for this is twofold. First, the perception in the public domain is that those in the public service are either thieves or kleptomaniacs who mindlessly pillage our Commonwealth.
“This assumption, no matter how widely held, is not true. Despite our challenges as a nation, there are men and women who continue to serve our country with honesty, integrity, and patriotism. I AM ONE OF SUCH. Secondly, ignoring Bash Alli and his tradition of deploying blackmail and gutter tactics now,will further embolden and enable him to continue in his usual trajectory even after I have served out my mandate as minister of Sports, without consequences.
“Gentlemen of the press, you are aware that before I was appointed to the office of Minister of Sports Development, Bash Alli had sought to mindlessly impugn the character and reputation of some of my predecessors in office, without any shred of evidence.
“In my own case, he has exhumed and redeployed this hydra headed monster and gone overboard because past Ministers perhaps treated him and his wild allegations with kid gloves. To simply walk away from this baloney, for me, is not an option. “Bash Alli’s allegation that I demanded for “another 1 million dollars”as if I had received a first tranche of one million dollars from him,or perhaps any of my predecessors had done so,is a manufactured lie from the pit of hell.
“At no point in time did I demand for any form of gratification from Bash Alli. The questions to ask are these: One million dollars from where? If Bash Alli had one million dollars, why has he not staged his fight? His spurious allegation suffers from fatal deformity and is based on the erroneous impression that government in Nigeria is a cash cow at the mercy of public servants to pillage at will.
“Let me be clear. Bash Alli desperately wanted to meet me in my very early days as Minister of Sports Development when I had hardly settled down on the job. In the deluge of his desperate attempts, I decided to meet him against the advice of the staff of the Ministry who were familiar with his character and antics. Against their advice,I decided to meet him out of respect for his age and based on the open door policy with which I am currently leading the Ministry.
“Conscious of the advice of some key staff of the Ministry,I sought to insulate myself and the office from any blackmail that may emanate from this meeting by making sure that my team was present at the meeting. He presented the issue of his pet project, and I told him to be patient while i get more briefing from the Ministry.
“All my life, the said meeting is the first and only time I ever met Bash Alli. There were no follow-ups after that one-off meeting, and I did not introduce any of my aides to him. After the said meeting, I politely refused to meet with him to this day in spite of his numerous requests and pressures.
“His incessant messages to me will speak to his desperation. “Gentlemen of the press, as you know, Bash Alli’s plan to stage his boxing fight in Nigeria has a long history spanning almost two decades. To achieve this personal aspiration, he has deployed all manner of strategies including naked blackmail and under hand tactics in his desperate effort to arm twist the Federal Government to spend upwards of $50m USD to stage his fight.
“Successive Ministers of Sports have rightly told him that his plan to stage this fight is not the responsibility of the government but a business that should be executed by the private sector.
“In concluding this statement, gentlemen of the press, I sincerely believe that, in spite of our numerous challenges, our country still has a soul. Our humanity will be irretrievably destroyed the day we lose our soul. Bash Alli’s desperate and unprovoked withering attack on me is an attack on decency, honesty, and integrity.
“The move to clear my name has just started, and there will be no let up until I achieve this sacred mission. In addition to other remedies under the ambit of the law, I have instructed my lawyer to write Bash Alli demanding an immediate public retraction of his allegations and to render a public apology.
“He will have just one week to do this; the failure to do this on his part will leave me with no option than to approach the courts to both clear my name and seek damages.” he added
The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has disclosed that two mobile phones allegedly stolen from members of his team during Friday’s attack in Ado-Ekiti have been traced to locations near the Ekiti State Governor’s Office and Fajuyi Park.
Sowore made the disclosure in a post on X on Sunday, November 1, 2026, while renewing his demand for the release of CCTV footage from Tawakalitu Restaurant, where he and members of his team were attacked on October 30.
According to him, one of the stolen devices was traced to a location directly opposite the office of Governor Biodun Oyebanji, while another was located opposite Fajuyi Park in Ado-Ekiti.
RELATED NEWS: Ekiti Attack: Sowore Demands CCTV Release, Questions Gov’t Ties to Gang Leader
Describing the discoveries as disturbing, Sowore questioned why the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS) had yet to release the CCTV footage allegedly seized from the restaurant.
“This morning, we tracked two of the devices violently robbed from members of our team during the brutal attack in Ado-Ekiti on Friday, October 30, 2026, and the locations are deeply disturbing,” he wrote.
“One phone was traced to a location directly opposite the office of the Executive Governor of Ekiti State, while our other devices were located opposite Fajuyi Park in Ado-Ekiti,” he added.
The activist subsequently renewed his demand for the release of the surveillance footage, insisting that the recordings from the restaurant should be made public.
“Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force and the DSS have yet to release the CCTV footage seized from Tawakalitu Restaurant, where we were attacked.
“RELEASE THE CCTV FOOTAGE NOW!” he demanded.
The latest disclosure follows an attack on Sowore and members of his entourage at Tawakalitu Restaurant in Ado-Ekiti on Friday, shortly after the activist participated in a radio interview in the state.
Sowore had alleged that armed men attacked his team, assaulted some members and dispossessed them of their personal belongings, including mobile phones.
The incident generated controversy after the Ekiti State Police Command initially described it as an altercation involving Sowore and some individuals, while the activist maintained that his team was violently attacked.
The police subsequently announced the arrest of 11 suspects in connection with the incident.
According to the police, operatives of the Rapid Response Squad arrested the suspects at their hideouts in the Atikankan area of Ado-Ekiti at about 10 p.m. on October 30.
Items reportedly recovered during the operation included 13 mobile phones, two walkie-talkies, seven ATM cards, eight international passports, vehicle keys and other belongings.
The police said investigations were ongoing to establish the roles of the suspects and determine their possible involvement in the incident.
Sowore’s latest disclosure has renewed calls for the release of the restaurant’s CCTV footage, which he believes could provide further evidence about the circumstances surrounding the attack.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has tested the physical endurance, tactical awareness and military preparedness of 816 newly recruited personnel during an intensive six-day bush camp exercise in Kaduna.
The exercise, codenamed Exercise MUN FARA, was conducted from October 12 to 17, 2026, at the NAF Base Kaduna for trainees of Basic Military Training Course (BMTC) 46/2025.
The training featured demanding military activities, including day and night navigation, patrols, ambushes, attack drills and tent pitching, designed to prepare the recruits for operations under challenging field conditions.
SEE ALSO: Atiku Mourns 25 Killed in NAF Aircraft Crash in Ondo
The exercise culminated in a gruelling 20-kilometre cross-country competition, with Alpha-Jet Squadron emerging overall winner after completing the race in two hours, 33 minutes and seven seconds.
Recruit Mohammed U of MI-35 Squadron finished first in the male category, while Recruit Salihu SO of ATR-42 Squadron emerged winner in the female category.
Commending the recruits for their resilience, discipline and team spirit, the MTC Commandant, Air Commodore AO Akins, said the exercise provided an opportunity to assess their practical application of essential military skills.
He noted that the training tested their knowledge and abilities in fieldcraft, weapon handling and map reading, alongside their capacity to work effectively as a team.
The Air Force said the exercise formed part of its progressive training programme aimed at developing disciplined, confident and mission-ready personnel.
The recruits are expected to proceed to their final bush camp training before completing their military training and commencing service in the Nigerian Air Force.
Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has demanded the release of CCTV footage showing the attack on him and members of his team in Ado-Ekiti, while questioning the alleged relationship between the Ekiti State Government and a suspected gang leader.
Sowore made the demands in a post on X on Sunday, November 1, 2026, while responding to the Ekiti State Government’s October 31 press release on the October 30 attack.
SEE ALSO: Atiku Raises Alarm Over Attacks on Sowore, ADC Governorship Candidate, Accuses APC of Intimidation
He also challenged Governor Biodun Oyebanji to explain an alleged warning issued by his Chief Security Officer, CSP Ayodele Akinlua, hours before the incident.
According to Sowore, Akinlua contacted a member of his team, Moyinoluwa Olowoyo, popularly known as Gigabytes, at approximately 7:30 a.m. on the day of the attack and warned that his safety could not be guaranteed if he proceeded with political activities in the state.
Sowore alleged that more than 100 armed thugs subsequently attacked him and members of his team in broad daylight, leaving several people injured and robbed.
Questioning the circumstances surrounding the warning, he asked:
“Why was the Governor’s Chief Security Officer warning that my safety could not be guaranteed hours before armed thugs descended on us? Who authorized that call? What did the Governor know, and when did he know it?”
The AAC presidential candidate accused the state government of failing to address the circumstances surrounding the attack, arguing that its response focused on questioning his motives rather than condemning the violence.
He also faulted the government’s description of the incident as an ordinary altercation, insisting that the attack involved armed political thugs.
Sowore further questioned the alleged relationship between the Ekiti State Government and Sola Adenijo, popularly known as Solar, whom he identified as the leader of the gang that attacked him and his team.
He alleged that Adenijo was on the state government’s payroll and challenged Governor Oyebanji to disclose whether the individual received payments, contracts, appointments, stipends or other financial benefits from the government, directly or indirectly.
“We challenge Governor Oyebanji and his government to publicly disclose whether Sola Adenijo receives payments, contracts, appointments, stipends, or any other financial benefits from the state government, directly or indirectly,” he stated.
Sowore maintained that a general denial of involvement by the government was insufficient without addressing the specific allegations.
He also demanded the immediate preservation, recovery and public release of CCTV recordings from the restaurant where the incident occurred and surrounding premises.
The activist urged the relevant authorities to secure the complete recordings, preserve the original files and release the footage without alteration, while protecting innocent bystanders.
“Let Nigerians see what happened. Let the footage establish whether this was the so-called ‘altercation’ being promoted by the Police and the State Government or a coordinated attack by armed political thugs,” he said.
Sowore further alleged that security operatives had attempted to remove CCTV recordings and demanded an explanation regarding who took possession of the footage, where it was being kept and why it had not been made public.
He also questioned the activities of security agencies before the attack, alleging that Department of State Services (DSS) operatives had disrupted his political meeting at a restaurant.
According to him, members of his team and security personnel attached to them were assaulted, with some security personnel allegedly disarmed during the incident.
Sowore also referenced a statement by MKD Araoye, lead organiser of the Ikogosi Marathon, announcing a ban on his participation in the event. He alleged that the development further raised questions about possible official involvement in the incident.
The AAC presidential candidate called for an independent and transparent investigation into the roles of the attackers, their alleged sponsors, the governor’s security personnel, the DSS and any police or DSS officers implicated in the incident.
He maintained that the investigation should examine eyewitness accounts, communication records, financial records and CCTV footage.
“The Ekiti State Government cannot investigate itself through press releases, insult the victims into silence, or manufacture an alternative account of an attack that left people injured,” he said.
Sowore insisted that the incident would not deter him from exercising his constitutional rights or participating in political activities.
He also challenged Governor Oyebanji to release the CCTV footage, explain the alleged warning from his Chief Security Officer and disclose the government’s relationship, if any, with Adenijo.
Ekiti Attack: Sowore Tracks Stolen Phones Near Governor’s Office, Demands CCTV Footage
NAF Tests 816 Recruits’ Combat Readiness in Kaduna Bush Camp Exercise
‘Tinubu Built Northern Alliances Long Before Presidency’ – Sunday Dare
Ekiti Attack: Sowore Demands CCTV Release, Questions Gov’t Ties to Gang Leader
Nigeria Gets More 1,000 5G Sites, Courtesy Airtel
INEC Chairman Assures on 2027 Elections
Trump’s Family Unveils New Cryptocurrency Platform
Senate Denies Receiving Petitions Against Tinubu’s Ambassadorial Nominees
Dangote Cement Lights Up Benue Host Communities With CSR Initiatives
Reps Recommend 3-year Jail Term For Aviation minister
Tems Sets New Record On Billboard Hot 100 Chart
