Strange! Nsirim Still Nigeria Judo President On IJF Website, Stakeholders Slam Secretary

IKPO IGBINOBA 

Six months after he was sacked as President of the Nigeria Judo Federation, NJF,  Mr. Timothy Nsirim is still being paraded as the federation’s helmsman on the website of the International Judo Federation, IJF.

Nsirim was sacked on April 30, by Sports Minister, Sunday Dare along with other federations’ Presidents when their boards were dissolved preparatory to elections.

Brig-Gen Zachary Abubakar was appointed as chairman of the NJF caretaker committee to run the affairs of the federation before the elections and inauguration of new boards.

On September 30, elections were conducted and Dr. Musa Oshodi emerged as the President of the federation.

The NJF board along with other federations’ boards were inaugurated on October 8.

However, the NJF secretariat headed by Mrs. Monica Otumola has refused to inform the Africa Judo Union AJU and the IJF of these developments.

Stakeholders expressed disgust at the development which they described as very unfortunate.

In his reaction, Joe Ebri said the Secretary of the federation had no reason not to have informed the IJF and AJU of the developments since April 30.

The budding judoka said “In this digital age, the secretary has no excuse for not communicating the developments to the continental and global bodies from April 30.

“In climes where things are done properly, the secretary would have been sanctioned for this laxity”.

A judoka who didn’t want to be named said the Secretary must have other motives for not informing the relevant bodies of the change of leadership.

“How else does one explain this lapse of still having Nsirim as President of NJF on IJF website six months after he was sacked?

“The secretary needs to answer some questions”.

A judo fan, Stella Angwe said the Secretary’s refusal to inform the IJF and the AJU of Nsirim’s removal six months after must be probed.

In her words “There is more to the secretary’s action than meets the eye. She needs to answer some questions from her employer”.