The Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, has struck out a ₦500 billion naira lawsuit filed by former boxing champion Bash Ali against former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, and the National Sports Commission, effectively ending the long-running legal dispute.
Delivering the ruling, Honourable Justice U.P. Kekemeke of Court 4 described the case as “frivolous and a waste of the court’s time.” The court ruled that the suit was statute-barred, meaning it was filed outside the legally allowed timeframe, and held that no valid contract existed between the Ministry or Mr. Dare and Bash Ali regarding the much-publicized “Guinness Book World Boxing Project.”
A Case Built on Unfounded Allegations
Bash Ali had for over five years made several unsubstantiated claims against Sunday Dare and other sports officials, including allegations of financial misappropriation, extortion, and sabotage of his proposed Guinness World Record boxing fight. The court found no evidence to support these claims.
Key facts clarified in court included:
$12 Million Allegation: The alleged $12 million payment to a former Chief of Staff and the Federal Government had no connection to Sunday Dare. Evidence showed that the transaction occurred before his tenure and he was never involved.
₦13 Million Extortion Claim: The accusation that Dare and the Ministry’s Head of Legal extorted ₦13 million from Ali was proven to be false. The Ministry had lawfully negotiated and paid ₦15 million out of a ₦28 million court judgment from an earlier case involving former Minister Solomon Dalung. All parties, including Bash Ali and his legal counsel, signed a formal settlement on May 20, 2020.
Fight Cancellation Claims: The claim that Mr. Dare deliberately stopped Bash Ali’s boxing event was also discredited. The Ministry clarified that, like past administrations, it decided not to sponsor the proposed fight, citing legal, financial, and credibility concerns. A formal warning letter dated January 7, 2020, was issued to Bash Ali against spreading false information about nonexistent government approvals.
A Pattern of Legal and Media Confrontation
The ruling also highlighted a troubling pattern in Bash Ali’s conduct, who has reportedly made similar claims against five different Sports Ministers over the years, none of which have held up in court. Despite pushing for his Guinness World Record fight for nearly two decades, no administration—across five presidents—has granted official approval for the project.
The judgment is seen as a significant vindication for Sunday Dare and other sports officials who had been accused without substantiation. Legal observers note that the case underscores the importance of facts and timelines in holding public institutions and figures
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