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Sports Minister Denies Bash Ali’s Bribery Accusations

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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

 

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NEWS

Salvation for All Souls Global Outreach Provides Free Medicals at Osun

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The Salvation for All Souls Global Outreach, SAFAS, a leading evangelical ministry with a focus on delivering free humanitarian and robust healthcare for the less privileged in the society has concluded its one-day free medical outreach in Ifewara, Osun State, where hundreds of residents benefitted from various healthcare services.

The outreach, which was held on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at Akinyemi Memorial Grammar School, offered free medical consultations, health screenings, surgeries, dental care, medications, eye care services including free glasses, as well as health education.

The ministry also provided financial support to widows and widowers in the community.

The initiative, carried out in collaboration with the Christian Medical and Dental Association, Osun State chapter, forms part of SAFAS’ established model of combining medical intervention with a follow-up crusade, a structure the organisation has previously implemented in Lagos, Abeokuta and Ibadan before extending to Ifewara.

Speaking on the development, the President of SAFAS, Apostle BOT Adeyemi, said the outreach reflects the organisation’s commitment to meeting the holistic needs of communities, noting that the model has consistently delivered impact across different locations as it addresses both physical and spiritual concerns.

ALSO READ: Dangote Leads East Africa’s Industrial Revolution

Also, the Media Director of SAFAS, Ayomikun Bamgboye, explained that the approach goes beyond immediate relief, adding that the integration of medical outreach with a crusade ensures sustained engagement and deeper transformation within host communities, as seen in previous outreaches across the country.

One of the participating medical practitioners, who spoke on the exercise, described the outreach as timely and impactful, noting that many beneficiaries accessed quality healthcare services they would otherwise not have been able to afford.

Following the medical outreach, the organisation is set to commence a crusade in Ifewara from April 27 to May 1, 2026, aimed at providing spiritual support and reinforcing the gains recorded during the medical intervention.

SAFAS has continued to expand its outreach footprint across Nigeria through integrated programmes that combine healthcare delivery with social and spiritual support for underserved communities.

Photo Caption
Health officials offering free medicals at the event

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Horror in Kogi: Gunmen Abduct 24 Pupils in Orphanage Raid, 15 Rescued

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Tragedy struck in Kogi State as armed men invaded an orphanage facility and abducted 24 persons, including 23 pupils and the wife of the school proprietor, in a violent night attack that has thrown the community into panic.

The Kogi State Government confirmed the incident on Monday, revealing that security operatives have so far rescued 15 of the victims, while efforts are ongoing to free the remaining abductees.

ALSO READ: Kogi Chamber Honours Dangote Cement over Impactful Social Performance

According to the State Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, the attack occurred on Sunday, April 26, 2026, when gunmen stormed the premises of the Dahallukitab Group of Schools, a facility located in a remote and bushy area of the state.

Fanwo explained that the orphanage was not registered with the state government, describing its operation as illegal and noting that it had no formal approval or security clearance from relevant authorities.

He said the attackers whisked away 23 pupils alongside the wife of the proprietor before security agencies swiftly responded to the distress call.

“The swift intervention of security agencies led to the rescue of 15 of the abductees, while efforts are ongoing to secure the release of the remaining victims,” the commissioner stated.

Security operatives, led by the Nigeria Police Force in Kogi State and supported by other agencies, have intensified search-and-rescue operations in surrounding forests and suspected escape routes.

Fanwo commended the professionalism of the security forces, noting that their rapid response helped prevent a worse outcome.

He also raised concerns over the operation of unregistered schools and orphanages in isolated locations, warning that such establishments expose children and staff to serious security risks.

According to him, the government has reiterated its warning to operators of educational and care facilities to ensure proper registration and compliance with safety regulations.

He added that investigations are ongoing, while assuring residents that the government remains committed to rescuing the remaining victims and bringing the perpetrators to justice.

Security has since been reinforced in the affected area as search operations continue.

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Midnight Massacre: Gunmen Wipe Out Pastor, Entire Family in Plateau

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Plateau set to clear backlog of N18bn gratuities of retired civil servants

Residents of Gako Village in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State were thrown into mourning following a deadly midnight attack that claimed the lives of a pastor and his entire family.

The victims, identified as Rev. Ayuba Choji, his wife Chundung Ayuba, and their two children, Cyril and Endurance Ayuba, were reportedly killed when suspected gunmen stormed the community at about 11 p.m. on Sunday.

Eyewitnesses said the assailants opened fire indiscriminately, forcing residents to flee for safety.

SEE ALSOGunmen Kill Two, One Missing as Fresh Attack Hits Plateau Community

A community member, Martha Dalyop, described the attack as terrifying, noting that the gunmen invaded the village under the cover of darkness and shot sporadically.

She lamented that repeated attacks in the area have left villagers living in constant fear, with many unable to sleep in their homes or access their farms.

Confirming the incident, the publicity secretary of the Berom Youths Moulder Association, Rwang Tengwong, said the latest assault reflects a troubling pattern in the operations of the attackers.

According to him, the gunmen often split into groups during attacks, with some targeting residents, others destroying farmlands, and another group blocking roads to prevent escape or intervention.

Tengwong further revealed that within the past 48 hours, large portions of farmland in Kassa, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, were destroyed by gunmen.

Crops such as cabbage, hot pepper, and maize were affected, compounding the hardship faced by farmers in the region.

The latest killings have heightened tension across Riyom and neighbouring Barkin Ladi communities, with residents calling on security agencies and government authorities to urgently step up efforts to curb the persistent violence and protect lives and livelihoods.

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