By Sani Yarima
Mr. Azania Omo-Agege, the Vice President of the Nigeria Boxing Federation, has issued a final demand notice to the Federal Ministry of Sports Development.
In a letter dated 19/9/2024, addressed to the Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, Karina Tunyan (SAN), and Company, solicitors to Mr. Azania Omo-Agege, demanded the immediate inauguration of their client as President of the federation, pending the next election, in compliance with the Articles of Association of the Federation.
The legal firm demanded that the Board members of the Nigeria Boxing Federation be called to order by the Ministry of Sports to comply with the Articles of Association by immediately inaugurating their client as the President of the Federation.
They emphasized that if within 14 days there is no intervention by the Ministry to dissuade the continuous perpetuation of this embarrassing act of Mr. Minimah, the former President of the Federation and his cohorts or absolute compliance with the Articles of Association of the Federation by its Board members, they will resort to approach a competent court of law as instructed by their Client.
They requested a withdrawal of the unlawful suspension issued to their client and a letter of apology to be tendered and published in two National Newspapers.
The letter also highlighted that Mr. Kenneth Minimah, who was the President of the Federation, has exhausted his 12-year maximum tenure as enshrined in the Federation’s Articles of Association.
It was stated that Mr. Minimah’s tenure as President of the Federation started on the 10th of November, 2010, and ended on the 10th of November, 2022, but he continues to parade himself as President of the Federation illegally, including having unlawful and questionable dealings with its finances.
The legal firm also raised concerns about the financial mismanagement perpetuated by Mr. Minimah and his cohorts and requested an audit to determine the extent of this mismanagement.
Additionally, they mentioned that the International Boxing Federation’s Disciplinary body, Boxing Independent Integrity Unit (BIIU), questioned Mr. Minimah’s continuous illegality and delivered a judgment on the 10th of November 2023.
Mr. Minimah was subsequently suspended by the internationally recognized supervisory body of the Federation, the International Boxing Federation.
The letter highlighted that Mr. Minimah was allowed to respond to the allegations leveled against him by the international body but disregarded the notice.
Instead of pleading his case at the tribunal, Mr. Minimah orchestrated a meeting with some members of the Board of Nigeria Boxing Federation and conjured the suspension of the Vice President, Mr. Azania Omo-Agege, referred to as their client.
The suspension of their client was communicated via a letter dated 13th November 2023, which they deemed malicious.
It was also mentioned that Mr. Minimah has refused to resign his role as president despite the provision in the Federation’s Articles of Association, which states that in case the president loosens the membership, the vice president steps in.
The letter concluded by stating that the illegal leadership of Mr. Minimah and his cohorts has put the Federation in disrepute and has become embarrassing to both the Ministry of Sports and the country internationally.
