Nigeria Boxing Federation Interim President Demands Probe Over Controversial World Boxing Affiliation
Interim President of the Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF), Azania Omo-Agege, has called for a public hearing at the National Assembly over the federation’s controversial affiliation with World Boxing without proper stakeholder consultation.
Omo-Agege is demanding that former NBF President, Kenneth Minimah, appear before lawmakers to explain the decision to align the federation with the new international boxing body without board approval or the consent of the sports ministry.
“Let them come and explain to Nigerians how they took the Nigeria Boxing Federation to an organization that supports transgender athletes, which contradicts our constitution, without consulting board members and stakeholders,” Omo-Agege stated in an interview on Tuesday.
This development adds to the ongoing leadership crisis within the NBF, which intensified after Minimah was suspended for 90 days by the International Boxing Association (IBA) in November 2023 for allegedly violating its constitution.
Controversy Surrounding World Boxing Affiliation
The crisis escalated when Omo-Agege, who was the federation’s vice president at the time, discovered Nigeria’s membership in World Boxing without any prior board meeting or approval. He revealed that Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC) President, Habu Gumel, acknowledged awareness of the affiliation but insisted that such a decision required federation-wide consent.
“I asked President Gumel if he was aware of Minimah’s decision to join World Boxing. He told me Minimah approached him about it, and he said it was fine as long as the federation and board members approved,” Omo-Agege explained.
“However, no congress was held to make this decision, and they acted without authorization from the sports ministry. If they have any approval letters from the ministry, let them present them. The NOC does not have the authority to move a sports federation to another body without the minister’s approval.”
Calls for Investigation
Omo-Agege has urged various authorities, including the National Assembly and the Nigerian Sports Commission, to launch an investigation into what he termed an “illegal decision.”
“I am calling for a thorough probe by the National Assembly and requesting the President to set up a private committee to investigate this matter. I also urge NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko to look into this. Nigeria deserves better governance in sports,” he added.
Impact on Nigerian Boxing
The leadership turmoil has already affected Nigeria’s boxing performance, with athletes raising concerns about inadequate preparation. Boxer Zainab Adeshina previously expressed frustrations over the lack of proper training and equipment ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic qualifiers.
“There was no proper preparation, and we didn’t have the necessary training equipment for this qualifier,” Adeshina lamented.
Similarly, boxer Ifeanyi Onyekwere criticized the chaotic training conditions, saying, “Our preparation was very poor. We only had a one-week camp, and it was stressful.”
Technical Director of the NBF, Babatunde Laguda, also questioned the federation’s decision-making, particularly in coaching appointments.
“He (Adura Olalehin) doesn’t even have a training gym for boxers. He was appointed under General Kenneth Minimah (retd.),” Laguda said, referring to controversial coaching changes that impacted the team’s performance.
Olalehin, who led the team to Paris 2024, defended the federation’s decision to replace the national team coach.
“People are saying we failed, but Coach Tony (Konyegwachie) led teams to multiple Olympics and only won one medal in 1996. We had three qualified boxers, and only one competed. How is that a failure?” Olalehin argued.
Silence from NBF Officials
Efforts to reach Minimah, Gumel, and NBF Secretary Dapo Akinleye for comments were unsuccessful, as they did not respond to calls or messages at the time of filing this report.
However, NOC spokesperson, Tony Nezianya, acknowledged the switch to World Boxing, stating, “The NOC is aware of the issues with IBA, so we authorized the transition. It is the federation’s responsibility to inform the ministry, but we at the NOC were informed.”
As the controversy unfolds, stakeholders await further clarifications and possible government intervention to resolve the crisis within Nigerian boxing.
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