Assault: Witnesses Line Up To defend Bash Ali Against Dalung, IGP

PM EXPRESS can report that two witnesses have sworn to affidavit to testify in the case between World Boxing Federation (WBF) cruiserweight champion, Nigerian Bash Ali and the Honourable Minister of Sports and Social Development, Barrister Solomon Dalung and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris. 

Bash Ali has taken the Sports Minister (1st respondent), Namsel Nimyel, a Personal Assistant to the Minister (2nd respondent), the IGP (3rd respondent), Charles Boga (4th respondent)  and Mr.Joseph (5th respondent)  to an Abuja High Court on an alleged assault case which happened on 13 February at the Minister office.

The Nigerian boxer, who holds a traditional title in Ibadan, Oyo State, Ajagungbade of Ibadanland, alleged in his affidavit that he was assaulted  and beat up, hit on the ground with the butt of their guns, pummeled him into a state of unconsciousness and dragged with both legs out of the office of the 1st Respondent and deposited him on the ground in front of the office.

PM EXPRESS’ finding at the office of the lawyer to Bash Ali, B. O Nafagha Esq in Abuja at the weekend revealed that two people who witnessed when assault on Bash Ali was taken place had sworn to affidavit to stand as witnesses when the case come up at the Abuja High Court.

One of the witnesses, Omoaka Azeez, who resides at Bwari, Sabon Gari in Abuja, PM EXPRESS gathered, said in his  affidavit “that by 8am on Monday 13th February 2017, we went to the office of the Hon. Minister and we were asked by the 2nd Respondent to wait as the Hon. Minister was very busy in his office.

“That we waited till 1:45pm when His Excellency, the Ambassador of Hungary walked in and after exchanging pleasantries with the Applicant, the doors to the office of the Hon. Minister were thrown open to the Ambassador by the 2nd Respondent.

“That the Applicant then raised his voice to protest and said that “I and my Local Organizing Committee team came throughout last week to see the Hon. Minister to no avail and we have been waiting since 8am and now the Ambassador from Hungary who has just come is walking in to see the Hon. Minister. This is extremely humiliating to my person in my own Country that I have brought a lot of glory”

“That while he was still speaking, the 2nd Respondent shouted at him to shut up his dirty mouth and that they are acting on instruction of the Hon. Minister and thereafter pushed the Applicant violently from the door and as he staggered, the 4th Respondent punched him at the back of his head and the 5th Respondent descended on him. Both Police officers used the butt of their gun to hit him on his head and his lower body and they began beating him until he collapsed on the floor. We, members of the LOC were all violently pushed out of the office of the Hon. Minister while the Applicant was lying on the floor. There was commotion and we were running and screaming frantically calling for help that Mr. Bash Ali  is dying.

“That the Applicant was thereafter dragged on the ground like a common criminal and deposited outside the Minister’s office where we were together with other persons who have gathered in the Secretariat.

“That the Applicant was unconscious for about an hour until the Ministry sent for paramedics who then carried him in a stretcher to the Ministry Staff Clinic where he was given first aid treatment and when they saw that he was in extreme pains, he was immediately rushed to the Emergency Ward of the National Hospital where he stayed for about 8 hours before he was transferred to the Trauma Department where he spent two days.”

PM EXPRESS, however, gathered from the lawyer that the respondents by the incident of 13 February has infringed on the Fundamental Human Rights of the Nigerian Boxing Ambassador as these rights have been breached. The lawyer is urging the court to award the sum of N1 Billion as Compensatory Damages to Bash Ali and public  apology  by the respondents.