Sports Minister John Enoh has issued a stern ultimatum to former World Boxing Champion Bash Alli, demanding a public apology within a week for false allegations made against him, or face legal repercussions.
Enoh’s response comes following claims made by Alli in an open letter to President Bola Tinubu, alleging that the minister requested $1 million from him to endorse his plan for what he termed as the oldest boxers’ fight in Nigeria.
In the viral video, Alli, 68, expressed frustration, suggesting that certain individuals hindered his efforts to put Nigeria on the world map, similar to chess master Tunde Onakoya’s recent Guinness World Record achievement in chess marathon.
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Enoh, in a statement titled “Bash Alli and his serial blackmail must be confronted and defeated,” warned Alli to retract his allegations or face legal consequences.
He refuted Alli’s claims, emphasizing that he never solicited any gratification from him. Additionally, Enoh revealed that despite caution from ministry staff regarding Alli’s character, he had still met with him out of respect for his age and the ministry’s open-door policy.
Enoh clarified that Alli’s endeavor to organize the boxing fight in Nigeria has a lengthy history spanning nearly two decades, but successive sports ministers have rightly informed him that it’s not the government’s responsibility but rather a business venture for the private sector.
In closing, Enoh affirmed his commitment to clearing his name, asserting that Alli’s unfounded allegations are an assault on decency, honesty, and integrity. He pledged relentless efforts until his reputation is restored.