The Sports Minister Solomon Dalung has dismissed claims by former Cruiser-weight Boxing champion, Bash Ali that he was beaten by the Police during one of his attempt to speak with the minister.
Following reports that Bash Ali was alleged beaten by security operatives at Dalung’s office. But reports in Nigeria Bulletin claims that Special Assistant on Media to the Sports Minister, Nneka Ikem Anibeze has moved to debunk such claims.
Anizebe said: “Ali came to see the Minister and was told to wait at the minister’s waiting room with the 10 people who accompanied him.
“Bash Ali barricaded the entrance to the office of the minister with the men who accompanied him as he questioned why the Hungarian Ambassador to Nigeria, Prof. Gabor Ternak would be allowed to see the minister while he, who came earlier was not given access.
“The uniformed security tried to persuade Alli and his men to leave the minister’s secretary’s office but to no avail. The boxer who was carrying a file and mobile phone carefully went to the secretary’s table to drop his valuables and then fell flat on his back across the doorway.
“Bash Ali was neither touched, shoved nor manhandled by security operatives of the minister. He feigned that he had been beaten up but we challenge him to produce physical evidence of assault, gun handle bumps, and bruises, swelling or otherwise as being presented to the public.
“He has a record of such antics following his despair to defend a world boxing title at over 60.
“In 2013, he alleged that he was beaten up by security operatives of the then Minister of Youth and Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi.