*Insists going ahead with the N5bn charges against the former boxer
The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare, has called on security agencies in the country to be on the alert following threats from an ex boxer, Bash Ali to cause mayhem at the ministry.
At the weekend, a video message posted by the boxer, where he threatened violence against officials of the ministry went viral on the social media.
But in a press statement issued by Toyin Ibitoye, the Special Assistant on Multimedia to Minister of Youth and Sports Development, confirmed that the ministry was acting on the threat.
“The attention of the minister of Youth and Sports Development has been drawn to a video circulating online in which controversial boxer, Bash Ali, made defamatory, false and unsubstantiated allegations against his person.
“This recent video is irrespective and in disregard of a pending libel suit initiated by the Minister claiming damages to the sum of N5billion 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 Honourable 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 Hon. 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,” Ibitoye said in the statement.
The SA Multimedia stressed that despite this new threat, “the Hon. Minister will continue to diligently press his libel claims against Bash Ali and will also seek further remedies that the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria avail him.”
Already, the minister has contracted Bode Olanipekun, SAN of the law firm of Wole Olanipekun & Co to continue with the prosecution of the case.
