Federal High Court Dismisses Bash Ali’s ₦500 Billion Suit Against Former Sports Minister Sunday Dare

Federal High Court Dismisses Bash Ali’s ₦500 Billion Suit Against Former Sports Minister Sunday Dare

By Niyi Busari 

 The Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out a ₦500 billion lawsuit filed by former world cruiserweight boxing champion, Bash Ali, against former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, citing the claims as frivolous and lacking merit, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Presiding over the case at Court 4 in Maitama, Justice U.P. Kekemeke delivered the ruling during Thursday’s morning session. The suit, marked FCT/HC/CV/6411/2023, was also filed against the Federal Government of Nigeria and D.A. Muhammad, former legal director at the Ministry of Sports.

Bash Ali had alleged that Dare extorted ₦13 million from him under the pretext of facilitating a Guinness World Record boxing bout in Nigeria. He also accused the federal government of stalling the event despite what he claimed was an advance payment of $12 million to support its organization.

However, after reviewing the preliminary objections raised by counsel to Sunday Dare, Bode Olanipekun (SAN), the court ruled that the plaintiff failed to substantiate his allegations.

Reacting to the judgment, a visibly relieved Chief Sunday Dare stated: “The court, after thoroughly reviewing all submissions, heavily criticized the claimant, Bash Ali, for failing woefully to prove his allegations. The judge condemned the claims as frivolous and deeply misconceived.”

He added that the court found the case to be an abuse of the judicial process, ultimately dismissing it as a waste of the court's time.