NSC Director-General threatens Channels TV with lawsuit over Gara Gombe Interview

By Editor 

A heated dispute has erupted between National Sports Commission (NSC) Director-General, Bukola Olopade, and Hon. Ahmed Shuaibu Gara Gombe, founder of Athletics and other Sports Development Initiative, over comments made during an interview on Channels Television.

Gara Gombe however dared Olopade, to show evidence of his leadership since his appointment. Irked by the alleged submission Olopade has threatened to sue the media house Channels Television if they don’t withdraw the interview, sparking a war of words between the two parties.

The Athletics and other Sports Development Initiative, an NGO which advocates for transparency, accountability, and good governance in sports, questioned why the NSC DG would threaten media houses, including Channels TV presenters, with litigation if they fail to withdraw the interview material granted Hon. Gara Gombe by the station.

In a press statement signed by the NGO boss in Abuja and made available to Nationupdate, he accused Bukola Olopade of abusing his position as DG NSC by refusing to resign as Managing Director of Nilayo Sports Marketing Company after his appointment, insisting that the records and evidence are available.
He said, “The CTC from CAC Shows that he is still a Director of NILAYO SPORTS and he is still promoting NILAYO SPORTS. Even as Active DG NSC as he did in ENUGU STATE GOVERNMENT towards the National sports Festival and one other event in Ogun state.”

The details of the Press Statement he stated read thus: “Bukola Olopade, the director general of the National Sports Commission (NSC) should stop grandstanding, bullying and harassing Media houses when certain goings on in our sports are revealed.

“I was recently invited by Channels Television to discuss sports development in Nigeria on a programme ‘Lunch Time’ on Wednesday 6th August, 2025 at noon.
In that programme I tried my best to discuss happenings in sports in Nigeria.
In one of my statements I said Bukola Olopade the National Sports Commission NSC Director General is under Investigation by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC)
After the Programme, in his usual manner of intimidating and harassing people, he sent a message to Channels TV presenters, threatening them with litigation if they don’t withdraw the interview they had with me within 48 hours and also apologise, threatening that myself and Channels TV will be in Court.

“For Olopade, he is under Investigation by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), and he refused to honour their invitation, he didn’t resign as MD of Nilayo Sports Marketing Company owned by him.

“We have the records and he is busy promoting NILAYO marketing company in defiance of the Public service and Procurement Act. That’s a different issue we are coming to.”

Gara-Gombe went further to alleged, “As for EFCC, his is under Investigation with Tonobok Okowa AFN President and Rita Mosindi over Premium Trust Bank sponsorship deal the Matter is with EFCC and other related matter.
EFCC failed to investigate them thoroughly.

“The case is before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja, it’s  coming up in September.
We are going to release records of all marathons and long distance race events that Olopade organised as MD of Nilayo Sports Marketing Company.

“We gave an ultimatum that within 9 days any Marathon organizer that failed to pay athletes that participated in the race in two weeks will face litigation, Olopade rushed to pay athletes part of the entitlements.
But refused to pay majority of them till today both local and international.
This is a man that sends a message to Channels presenter/producers threatening them with litigation if they don’t withdraw the interview material.

“I’m not going to apologise to Olopade. We meet in Court,” Garba Gombe said.