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    Nigeria: Two AFN Chiefs Indicted in Favour Ofili Paris 2024 100m Omission Saga

    *Dr Mumuni Alao Panel recommends $5,000 compensation for Ofili

    United States of America-based Nigerian sprinter, Favour Ofili, who was denied the opportunity to compete in the 100m event of Paris 2024 Olympic Games may be compensated with $5,000 (about N8million) if the recommendation of the Dr Mumuni Alao panel of inquiry is accepted by the government.

    Ofili who qualified for the 100m event of Paris 2024 was denied the chance to race in the event at the Games. Her name was omitted from Nigeria’s official entry list. The lapse occurred between the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC).

    Following the omission and the outcry that it generated, Immediate past Sports Minister, Senator John Owan Enoh on return from Paris 2024 Olympic Games where Nigeria failed to win any medal, set up a panel of inquiry headed by Dr Mumuni Alao to unravel those behind the lapses and recommend appropriate sanctions.

    THISDAY learnt at the weekend that part of the recommendations made by the Dr Alao Committee to government is for Ofili to be compensated for the disappointment and depression that she suffered on account of her omission from the 100m event at the Games.

    “The Committee takes the view that the Athletics Federation of Nigeria is vicariously indicted in the Favour Ofili issue and should pay a compensation to the athlete as a collective responsibility of the organization. We view this monetary compensation as a symbolic gesture for sports officials and federations to know that there will be consequences for their actions beginning from now. This is particularly so for the AFN some of whose athletes were disqualified from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games due again to some tardiness on the part of the federation,” THISDAY scooped from the recommendation made to government.