Revealed! How NBBF Secretary General Was Removed Without Minister's Knowledge

Revealed! How NBBF Secretary General Was Removed Without Minister's Knowledge

By Niyi Busari

BSN Sports can authoritatively reveal that Afolabi Olabisi, the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) General Secretary was redeployed to Federation of Elite Athletes Department (FEAD) and replaced by Peter Njoku without the knowledge of the Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare.

In a letter made available to BSN Sports written by the Human Resources Department of the Ministry of Sports with reference number FMYSD/OFF/160/305, dated 27, April 2022, and titled, 'Redeployment of Secretary Generals And Assistant Secretary Generals', reads in parts; "I am directed to convey the Management approval for the redeployment of Secretary Generals and Assistant Secretary Generals to National Sports Federations..." Bisi Afolabi, was one of the Secretary Generals affected by the letter.

The redeployment shocked many basketball stakeholders wondering the rationale behind relocation of a Secretary General in the midst of NBBF crisis. Recall that two different NBBF elections were held in Abuja and Benin Edo State on January 31st, 2022 which led to emergence of two factional Presidents of the Federation (Eng Musa Kida and Igoche Mark). The Ministry of Sports recognised the two elections.

"There must be something behind the redeployment," a top Nigeria basketball stakeholder pointed out and that informed BSN Sports to start investigation. A week after her redeployment, our correspodent called the then newly appointed NBBF Secretary General, Peter Njoku, who confirmed that he has not resumed duty and would be in the NBBF office in Abuja when he returns from Lagos.

"Yes, I am the new NBBF Secretary General, Njoku confirmed to BSN Sports.

 "I am still in Lagos and we shall see when I resume in Abuja.

Kida in a letter had warned Olabisi for usurpation. The Secretary had in a letter named Moshood Abiola Stadium Abuja as the venue of the NBBF Elective Congress as against the choice of Benin, Edo State the Federation Congress chose as the venue.

A top official of Ministry of Sports revealed that the Minister, Sunday Dare knew about the redeployment when he called Bisi Afolabi to make arrangements for the venue and other logistics ahead of the inauguration of Interim Management Committee (IMC) at the Package B of Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja.

Minister was shocked when Bisi said she was no longer in charge adding that she has been replaced. Infuriated by the usurpation, the Minister immediately ordered that she should return back to office while other process to formalise her return commenced immediately.

The Interim Management Committee who are in charge of the basketball administration in Nigeria for the next two years was inaugurated on Saturday June 5, 2022 with Afolabi Olabisi as the Secretary General.

Our efforts to speak with Peter Njoku to air his side on why he was removed as NBBF Secretary within a month proved abortive as he failed to neither pick his calls nor response to message.