When a lion is over-protective of its immediate environment all living beings will be at alert but when an individual is overly protective of his duty that is temporal in nature as if it is for life, shouldn’t others be at alert and be skeptical? No, this write up is not about moral lesson rather its about exercise of civic duty as a concerned citizen of Nigeria.
Latest Corruption Scandal (NSC Must Come Clean)
Hypothetically speaking, if a new local Chief was installed and after such appointment, the Chief then forms a private company away from his Chieftancy duties. And the Chief’s private company’s main objective is to earn 15% revenue from the pay of those the Chief managed as his official duties. Based on this fact alone, what do we call that Chief? Is this action not called kickback? If the readers agreed that this action of revenue clawback for the benefit of the Chief is wrong, should it be a crime? Who do we blame? This writer says both the Chief and the individual that appointed the Chief ought to be blamed and prosecuted for abuse of power in exercise of fiduciary duties.
The above scenario is not really a fiction, but a deduction from allegations in an expose about Solomon Ogba, Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) boss. Mr. Ogba was imposed by two former Sports Ministers, the last being Bolaji Abdullahi whom against all odds, including full knowledge of gross negligent actions of Ogba’s AFN accompanied by large scale failures at the London Olympics Games appointed him.
The key allegation against Mr. Ogba (AFN Boss) concerns his establishing a company for the purposes of representing athletes in the manager’s capacity for a fee of 15% plus costs and those athletes were (are) members of AFN selected team. That entity has an address in Lagos, Nigeria and Silver Springs, Maryland, USA. Upon reviewing a copy of such contract and application materials filed with the IAAF, Commodore Nesiama, the Technical Director of AFN was listed as a party of such entity. The entity is known as Soloo Sports Management & Marketing, LLC. A former athlete revealed this expose after his investigation. (www.sportswithenee.com/2014/06/athletics-bosses-in-nigeria-abuse-of-office/)
Let’s be clear here, Solomon Ogba or Commodore Nesiama may not know that others were using their names, but the fact that the allegations were not rebutted then objective commentaries can be advanced by anyone.
As if these allegations are true, the problem for Commodore Nesiama is that, as one of the top members of the country’s military, he cannot have outside interest, that includes operating a USA bank account via a USA business. Away from moral ground, the Commodore must publicly dissociate himself from such entity to avoid bringing the military to disrepute, which is a serious offense under the military code of conduct. Frankly, this writer will simply ask him to resign his post as an AFN Board member to avoid future complications.
As for Solomon Ogba, this matter is more serious because other acts that accompanied these allegations, though circumstantial, but render the whole scenarios probable and highly believable. Mr. Ogba dissociating with the entity will not be enough considering the mountain of issues that he must exonerate himself from, such as:
Bringing about 10 American athletes to earn monies from Nigeria national trials at Calabar (do these people have a work visa in Nigeria? Did ‘Soloo’, allegedly owned by Mr. Ogba earned 15% of those individuals payment from AFN? Did Soloo reports those 15% earning to Nigeria and USA tax authorities as revenues? When did Nigeria national trials become American national trials?
Solomon Ogba aided and abetted violations of Nigeria’s Immigration rules according to media reports on the intention of those American athletes upon entry to Nigeria;
Solomon Ogba is now bent on using those Americans to compete for Nigeria during the Commonwealth Games later next month so that he can earn more 15% from them;
Any fund disbursed by NSC to any athlete will automatically be reduced by Mr. Ogba personal 15% charge;
Another allegation that only those that signed the ‘Soloo’ contract are allowed to represent Nigeria is even more damaging because based on the list published, this allegation appears truthful.
Clearly, as for AFN leader these allegations are not just morally wrong, but the fact that coercion is implied, kickbacks are alleged, favoritism is insinuated, immigration law was contravened and Nigeria’s sovereignty is for sale. The readers should note that this writing brings to light the consequences of the allegations against the leaders of AFN with the hope that those involved or allegedly involved should have a rethink of their actions and simply walk away than face even more embarrassment and criminal charges.
Way Forward
Former NSC Chairman cannot convince anyone that he lacked knowledge of these events because he initiated the first act. He wasted scarce resources on useless trip to London to advertise that the National Sports Festival is open followed by hiring two individuals illegally from abroad to destroy Nigeria’s sports even further and now AFN followed suit by bringing even more aliens illegally. This writer would like to know whether Bolaji Abdullahi also signed a contract with those two Americans that they must pay a fee of 15% to him? Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) must intervene as soon as possible.
NSC power may be limited to only dissociate with AFN, which can be enforced beginning even before the Commonwealth Games. Otherwise, Nigeria’s athletics team will be made of mercenaries from other countries, some of whom were former drug cheats and will be disgraced by UK authorities because they lacked ties to Nigeria either by birth, citizenship or otherwise, essentially fraud.
I rest
Dr. Rashid A. Balogun, CPA, LLB(Hons.), LLM(London)
