MULTI MILLION NAIRA FRAUD, EMBEZZLEMENT ALLEGATIONS ROCKS RIVERS SPORTS MINISTRY

… COMMISSIONER, RISKS SACK

There has been allegations of fraud amounting to over N200m promised athletes who participated in the just concluded PARIS 2024 OLYMPICS GAMES as the intention of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara to proactively and vigorously recruit young sportsters and rejuvenate sports activities and development in all areas may be in jeopardy, consequent on alleged corruption and other unwholesome activities currently rocking the State Ministry of Sports.

The state ministry of sports under the watch of Barr. Christopher Green as the commissioner is facing scrutiny concerning how monies meant for Athletes’ welfare have allegedly disappeared into thin air without anyone knowing how such humongous amounts of money needed for supporting sports men and women in Rivers state had gone to.

The Towncrier while investigating the allegations could not reach the Honourable Commissioner, Barr. Christopher Green for verification of the allegations as he is said to be under intense pressure to explaining how such monies couldn’t reach targeted Athletes and he risks sack following multiple allegations bothering on gross mismanagement, corruption and fraud being leveled aganist him by some topnotch bureaucrats in the ministry, with reports indicating that the Federal anti-graft agents may have him invited in the process of investigating the allegations.

The three-time Commissioner of Sports is said to be currently enmeshed in yet other unverified allegations of embezzlement of monies meant for allowances to upset bills of athletes, sportsmen and some officials in the State Ministry of Sports.

A source who spoke under condition of anonymity accused the Sports Commissioner of deliberately working aganist the incumbent administration of Siminalayi Fubara, hence his deliberate decisions to deny Athletes and coaches the opportunity to participate in the National Youth Sports Festival.

“There have been several instances in recent times that Rivers State contingents of coaches, trainers, athletes, sportsters and relevant officials were unexplainably denied participation in Youth Sports festivals despite lack of obtaining requisite training and preparations due to the ineptitude and dubious financial schemes by top echelon of the Rivers Sports Ministry”, our sources said.

The anonymous sources also explained that the D’Tigress’ Basketball Team, following their impressive performance at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, are yet to received the *N50 million and* *N100 million* promised them by the Rivers State Governor.

The source further recalled that last year, some Rivers athletes who participated in the National Sports Tournament in Asaba, Delta State had to fend for themselves even when money was approved for the journey and for their upkeep, adding that most of these athletes and gamesters have left the State due to prevalent scheme of negligence, corruption and high-handedness on the part of the Sports Commissioner.

Port Harcourt based Rivers United Football Club, an NPL professional soccer club, as well as the Rivers Angels FC, a female side that plays regularly in the Nigeria Women Premier League remain the State-owned football clubs.And are said to be under going tougher time as there has been continued unresolved issues bothering on finance.

However, when contacted the Sports Commissioner for his comments on these issues at time of filing this report,his phone was was not reachable.