By Ado Salisu
The founder of Athletics and other Sports Development Initiative, Hon. Ahmed Shuaibu Gara Gombe, has again dared the National Sports Commission Director-General, Bukola Olopade, to show evidence of his leadership since his appointment.
The NGO, which advocates for transparency, accountability, and good governance in sports, questioned why the NSC DG would threaten media houses, including Channels TV presenters, with litigation if the Station fail to withdraw the interview material granted Hon. Gara Gombe by the station.
In a press statement signed by the NGO boss today in Abuja, he accused Bukola Olopade of abusing his position as DG NSC by refusing to resign as Managing Director of Nilayo Sports Marketing Company after his appointment, insisting that the records and evidence are available,
The CTC from CAC Shows that he is still a Director of NILAYO SPORTS and he is still promoting NILAYO SPORTS. Even as Active DG NSC as he did in ENUGU STATE GOVERNMENT towards the National sports Festival and one other event in Ogun state.
Details of the Press Statement read thus..
“Bukola Olopade, the director general of the National Sports Commission (NSC) should stop grandstanding, bullying and harassing Media houses when certain goings on in our sports are revealed.
I was recently invited by Channels Television to discuss sports development in Nigeria on a programme ‘Lunch Time’ on Wednesday 6th August, 2025 at noon.
In that programme I tried my best to discuss happenings in sports in Nigeria.
In one of my statements I said Bukola Olopade the National Sports Commission NSC Director General is under Investigation by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC)
After the Programme, in his usual manner of intimidating and harassing people, he sent a message to Channels TV presenters, threatening them with litigation if they don’t withdraw the interview they had with me within 48 hours and also apologise, threatening that myself and Channels TV will be in Court.
For Olopade, he is under Investigation by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), and he refused to honour their invitation, he didn’t resign as MD of Nilayo Sports Marketing Company owned by him.
We have the records and he is busy promoting NILAYO marketing company in defiance of the Public service and procurement Act. That’s a different issue we are coming to.
As for EFCC, his is under Investigation with Tonobok Okowa AFN President and Rita Mosindi over Premium Trust Bank sponsorship deal the Matter is with EFCC and other related matter.
EFCC failed to investigate them thouroghly.
The case is before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja is coming up in September.
We are going to release records of all marathons and long distance races events that Olopade organised as MD of Nilayo Sports Marketing Company.
We gave an ultimatum that within 9 days any Marathon organizer that failed to pay athletes that participated in the race in two weeks will face litigation, Olopade rushed to pay athletes part of the entitlements.
But refused to pay majority of them till today both local and international.
This is a man that sends a message to Channels presenter/producers threatening them with litigation if they don’t withdraw the interview material.
I’m not going to apologise to Olopade. We meet in Court.
