National Sports festival, Fraud and Nigerian Athletics

Chief Patrick Ekeji...his Commission oversee this fraud

I recommend we change the name of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) to the Athletics Fraud of Nigeria (AFN). That is one house of sports that is most fraudulent coming on the heels of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). Even in a local talent-hunting National Sports Festival, the AFN and its officials had to go to the United States of America to smuggle in athletes to help them fraudulently win medals with which they can show their governors that the monies expended in the name of sports are well spent.

It is so sad that in the bid to run and be called into the national teams, some athletes allow themselves to be used fraudulently to perpetrate this kind of fraud. This is where the National Sports Commission (NSC) should have come in but like all other exposes, this may not make any meaning to them. For the records, it is important these fraudulent practices are laid bare.

I will speak for three very high profile fraudulent acts:

OMOTAYO TALABI:  She never lived in any Nigerian state for one month this year or any time before the National Sports Festival holding in Port Harcourt. The athlete who came eighth position at the Tucson Elite Throwers Classic Women's Results in her Arizona base with a 15.58m (51' 1.5") throw; How on earth did she qualify to compete in the event? Younger athletes that were supposed to have been discovered would have been dwarfed and discouraged. Why then are we holding the event? At the 2011 MPSF Championships that took place from 25^th  Feb 2011 to 26^th Feb 2011 at the Dempsey Indoor, Seattle WA she competed for the University of Arizona

UHUNOMA OSAZUWA: Studying Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) at University of Michigan, did Biochemistry at the Syracuse University also never lived in any part of Nigeria for a month. How did she qualify to compete in an event meant to scout for new and young talents? What is the Heptathlete doing in Port-Harcourt.

      CHIZOBA OKODOGBE: This athlete’s best time of 200m is 25.03 and in the 400m is 52.71 lives in the United States of America. How did this over-qualified athlete get into the National Sports Festival to compete in Port Harcourt.