A reputable Human Rights organization, the Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ) has dragged the Minister for Youths and Sports, Mr. Solomon Dalung before the nations’ anti-graft bodies over criminal diversion of sum of N7.2b.
The rights group, maintained that the sum of N7.2 billion was approved by President Muhammadu Buhari to the Ministry for the promotion of a World boxing championship bout which involving a former world cruiser-weight champion, Mr. Bashiru Alli popularly known as Bash Alli.
This was contained in a Petition letter dated March 25th,2019 and signed by the Executive Chairman of CHRSJ, Comrade Adeniyi, Alimi Sulaiman and copies were made available to Journalists on Saturday,insisted that Mr. Dalung has diverted the fund which was meant for the promotion of the bout to pitched Alli, against one of the ten opponents that had slated to fight him(Alli) in a World Record Breaking event slated for Nigeria in January, 2019
According to CHRSJ boss, the Petition Letters were forwarded to Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) and also sent copies President Muhammadu Buhari, leardship of the National Assembly and other concern agencies, calling for credible and thorough investigation into the alleged diversion of N7.2 billion by Dalung.
Comrade Sulaiman who disclosed that the anti-graft agencies had reported back to the group of receiving its Petition Letters and they have commenced investigation into the alleged corrupt practices of the Political head of the Ministry of Sport and Youth Development.
It would be recalled that Bash Alli Fans Club of Nigeria (BAFCON) in Lagos had earlier accused Mr. Dalung of frustrating the World Boxing Champion slated to hold early this year in the Country and also subjecting Mr. Alli to untold embarrassment and physical torture, which made them to condemn the lukewarm attitude of the outgoing Minister.
Speaking further on development, CHRSJ boss said that “We have been reliably informed that the current Minister of Youths and Sports, Mr. Solomon Dalung has been sitting on the sum of N7.2b being the funds that have been approved (on two occasions) by President Muhammadu Buhari for the staging of a Guinness Book of Records world boxing event in January, 2019 in Nigeria.
“We are raising the alarm again to all Nigerians because we have seen that the minister has flagrantly disobeyed the President Buhari order by frustrating and sabotaging the effort of Mr. President to put Nigeria in the world’s sporting map through the boxing Champion because over 39 countries were expected to involve in the boxing game.
Sulaiman stated further that information reaching the group indicated that the out going Minister has not been living up to the expectations of sportsmen and women in the country by not ensuring that issues bordering on their welfare are giving top priority as the principal official who supervises the ministry.
“It is no gainsaying the fact that the activities of Dalung and other officials in the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports are very injurious to the sport development in the country.We have received so many complaints from various athletes complaining of outright neglect and gross diversion of public funds meant for their welfare and career advancement of athletes.We are using this medium to urge the anti-graft agencies to ensure that the culprits were brought to justice over the subject matter”, the rights activist submitted
Sulaiman who doubles as Convener, Save Lagos Group(SLG) urged President Buhari not to reappoint Mr. Solomon Dalung into his cabinet again because he has brought retrogression to the ministry in the last four years, adding that President Buhari should set up an independent investigation Committee into this matter of national importance.
SEE THE PETITIONS BELOW:
Credit: Social Justice Equity
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