Media allegation
A story was published today, May 23, 2017 in some dailies with a screaming headline ‘Sports minister, Dalung risks arrest over alleged N182m bribe’
The story stated that ‘Members of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions have threatened to get Minister of Sports, Mr Solomon Dalung arrested over an alleged N30million bribery scam.’
It alleged that Dalung refused to appear before the committee after seven invitations were communicated to him.
The publication stated that the committee chaired by Rep Hon Abonta Uzoma Nkem, PDP, Abia also summoned the ministry’s Permanent Secretary and Director of Procurement to appear alongside the minister to explain their roles over alleged bribery scam involving a contractor.
The contract was said to have been transacted between 27 November 2013 and October 2015 by the then Ministry of Youth Development (Now Federal Minstry of Youth and Sports) for the construction of a youth development centre at Ojongbodu, Oyo state.
Solomon Dalung’s response.
I have never been invited by the said NASS committee and never received any invitation from the Committee in respect of the allegations published.
The contract was said to have been transacted between 27th November 2013 and October 2015 by the then Ministry of Youth Development, I took an oath of office in November 2015.
I am not even aware of the said transactions as I don’t even know the involved or even the company.
I did not mandate anybody to collect anything from anybody and so, not in the position to defend it. The whole allegation is coming to me as a surprise because before proceeding on medical vacation, I cannot remember receiving such petition.
I therefore challenge those fabricating the story to also tell Nigerians whether I was given a copy of the petition?
If the petitioner did not avail me the copy, I have the right to be served with a copy before the purported seven invitations by NASS. Or was NASS expecting me to appear before they will level the allegations and expect a reply?
There are laid down procedures of doing things and I believe that NASS is conversant with these practises common in democratic societies. As a law abiding citizen, I will never disregard invitation from NASS. If I have genuine reasons for not making it, I will communicate formally. The whole process looks like acting a script which is outside the confines of the law.
The power of arrest of NASS is a shield intended to protect the integrity of the legislature and not a sword to hunt perceived or imaginary enemies. The threat is too hash and lacks the flavour of legislative complements because choosing a period of my absence on medical vacation is the worst form of injustice against humanity. However, whenever, I resume from my medical vacation, I will report to the Inspector General of Police or Sergeant at Arms for journey into detention, but for now, I am responding to my health.
Oni Guarantor Afolabi submission.
The most respected set of Nigerians should have been expected to be found in the National Assembly.
These set of ‘Honourable’ members have behaved otherwise especially in their dealings with Nigerians and most especially, the Executive arm of government.
They have engaged in unnecessary battles that they have not only lost but got ridiculed in the process.
I don’t want to talk too much for fear of being declared wanted or summoned to face their numerous committees which overtime have proved to be just mere conduit pipes to siphon our common wealth.
Since the sports reforms led by Barrister Solomon Dalung started, it has been one battle after another from people with vested interests.
This recently climaxed with the giant step by the Federal Ministry of Sports led by Solomon Dalung to ensure a truly democratic system in the different sports federations.
With many of the current board members and presidents of these federations elected through the back door, a system that will usher in democracy will be fought to a stand still.
The worst hit were the presidents who have been in power since the days of Methuselah.
With the introduction of term limit of 12 years, some of the powerful elements who have been in sports were directly affected.
In some of the federations, the president and few of his lackeys have turned the sport to their personal estate.
Then, there was an introduction of an elaborate electoral college comprising of state chairmen and Representatives of institutions.
This blocked the door to a simple system of politics where an individual will only require a simple majority of the 13-man electoral college to emerge as President.
This again did not go down well despite the proposal getting the majority nod at a well attended Stakeholders meeting in Abuja.
So, these blood sucking gladiators will stop at nothing to cut off the head of the leader of this small group that are clamoring for something new in sports administration in Nigeria.
Funny enough, some members of these sports federations are members of this same house committee on sports. They are disguising under the pretense of carrying out their oversight functions to fight their personal battles and thinking that we are too naive not to know their true intentions.
A story went viral today alleging Dalung and some top ministry staff of corruption totaling 30million Naira.
The syndicated story reported that Dalung has been summoned 7 times by the House Committee on Public Petitions to explain his role in the scam and the House Committee on Sports are also threatening fire and brimstone if Dalung fails to explain issues surrounding the sports federations elections.
Right now, it is a case of their words against his. So, since they are the accusers, the onus to provide documents/correspondence as regards his several invitations lies on the house.
Before we (journalists) get caught up in the cross fire between the Executive and Legislative arms of government, we should apply due diligence.
We should not just rush to press to publish a damning story against a Minister who as at the time the said contractor alleged, he was not yet in office.
The allegations stopped at October, 2015 while Dalung was appointed as Minister of Youth and Sports in November, 2015.
Why will the committee fail in conducting their investigation and making their findings known to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for further actions rather than trying all those fingered to have been involved in the media?
Since Nigeria is not a sci-fi movie where characters can go back and forth in time, it will be next to impossible for a Dalung who was not a minister in October to have participated in this particular scam as petitioned.
So, why overlook those who were in charge during this period to come and explain their own side of the story and the roles played in the whole process.
So, those who were in charge then, such as Alhassan Yakmut (then Director General of defunct NSC) should be asked questions.
The way this syndicated story just went viral without a source or credible documents to back their claims revealed that corruption and the cabals in sports are fighting back.
These people who are behind this falsehood are the disgruntled elements who have a huge war chest from proceeds from International Federations grants, federations budgets, athletes entitlements, sponsorships and other monies meant for sports development.
