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‘Don’t take Bash Ali’s threats for granted’, sports minister begs police for protection

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The Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, called on police and other security agencies to be on alert over threats made by former World Boxing Champion, Bashiru Ali popularly known as Bash Ali.

Ali had released a video accusing the minister of extorting ‘millions of naira’ from him as part of the process to organise a world boxing title fight for him.

The 63-year-old boxer had proposed a Guinness World Record boxing fight which falls under the purview of the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control.

Dare in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Multimedia Toyin Ibitoye described Ali’s claims as defamatory, false, and unsubstantiated.

The minister asked security agencies to protect him and the Ministry of Sports and Youth Development from the “violence” threatened by Bash Ali.

The statement said, “This recent video is irrespective and in disregard of a pending libel suit initiated by the minister claiming damages to the sum of N5 billion against Bash Ali for defamatory allegations made in the past.

“Apart from aggravating the previous defamatory acts, in the present video, Bash Ali has threatened violence and disruptive acts against a functional unit of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“As a responsible public office holder, the minister will not sit back and allow the threats materialize. If Bash Ali could have the effrontery to make and publicize a video where he not only made allegations against the person of the minister but also threatened to halt the operations of the Ministry of Youth and Sports development, then, it is compelling that the security agencies are put on alert so as to avoid a future situation of regret where things are taken for granted.”

Dare said he had briefed Bode Olanipekun (SAN) of the law firm of Wole Olanipekun & Co to continue with the prosecution of the case.

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