– Bash Ali in contempt of earlier defamation restraining order
Former Minister of Sports Sunday Dare is totally unconnected with the allegations of $12million paid to the Federal Government as claimed by Bash Ali, the extortion claim and the allegations that he was the one that stopped the purported Guiness Book of Records fight.
Our investigations have uncovered the truth behind the persistent and unfounded allegations made by veteran boxer Bash Ali against the former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, the Legal Director of the Sports Commission, and the Federal Government of Nigeria regarding his long-proposed Guinness World Record boxing bout.
For over 19 years, Bash Ali has pushed to stage the fight. However, across the administrations of four Presidents and five Sports Ministers, his proposal has consistently failed to receive official approval or endorsement — a clear indication of lingering doubts about its legitimacy and feasibility.
Among the sensational claims made by Ali is an allegation that $12 million was paid to a former Chief of Staff to a past President (not under the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu), as well as a purported N13 million extortion attempt involving the former Minister and the head of the Legal Department.
It is important to clarify that Bash Ali previously secured a court judgment against former Sports Minister Solomon Dalung for battery, with the court awarding him N28 million in damages.
When Sunday Dare assumed office as Sports Minister, he inherited the case file.
Records show that Bash Ali’s lawyers, B.O. Nafagha & Co., approached the Ministry to negotiate While the lawyers initially proposed N20 million, the Ministry negotiated and agreed to a settlement of N15 million, which was duly paid through Ali’s legal representatives. A receipt of the N15 million payment exists as evidence.
In this case, the difference between the N28 million awarded and the N15 million paid — a gap of N13 million — that is what Bash Ali now falsely presents as an extortion claim, accusing both the former Minister and the head of the Legal Department without any credible evidence.
Furthermore, contrary to Ali’s narrative, it has been confirmed that the former Minister sought and obtained the consent of the then-President before making any decisions regarding the proposed boxing event. At no point did the Minister act against Ali’s interest or seek to sabotage his plans.
Given the gravity of these repeated and unsubstantiated accusations, it is time for Nigerians to demand concrete proof from Bash Ali, rather than allow the reputations of public officials to be tarnished by unproven claims and deliberate misinformation.
Notably, on October 27, 2021, the former Minister filed a defamation lawsuit against Bash Ali. Represented by Festus Keyamo Chambers, an interlocutory application (Motion No. M/7145/2021) was filed, seeking a court order to restrain Ali from making further defamatory statements pending the outcome of the case.
Justice C. Agbaza granted the reliefs sought, legally prohibiting Bash Ali from any further public defamation of the Minister. Festus Ukpe, Esq., of Festus Keyamo Chambers, affirmed that any further defamatory or denigrating publication by Bash Ali constitutes contempt of court — a criminal offense under Nigerian law.
Despite the court order, Bash Ali has continued to violate the ruling by organizing press briefings, making defamatory statements, and granting media interviews — all aimed at maligning the image of the former Minister.
These actions represent not only a flagrant disregard for the authority of the judiciary but also a direct attack on the integrity of public service and due process.
