Court bars Bash Ali from defaming sports minister

A former World Boxing Champion, Bashiru Ali, popularly known as Bash Ali, has been issued a restraining order which bars him from further making or publishing any denigrating or defamatory material against the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare.

This was issued by Honourable Justice O.C. Agbaza of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

A statement shared on the official Facebook page of the sports ministry disclosed this on Friday.

According to the statement, “It will be recalled that sometime in April 2021, Bash Ali had in a letter, which he made available to the public, made several allegations against the Honourable Minister.

“The Honourable Minister denied those allegations and to assert his innocence, the Honourable Minister filed Suit No. FCT/HC/CV/1269/2021 seeking injunctive reliefs and pecuniary damages from Bash Ali on account of the defamatory publication.

“Despite the pendency of this suit, Bash Ali recently published a video on social media in which he repeated those false allegations against the Honourable Minister and also issued several threats against the Honourable Minister and the Ministry.

“In response, the Honourable Minister through his counsel, Festus Keyamo Chambers, filed an Interlocutory application with Motion No. M/7145/2021 seeking an order restraining Bash Ali from further denigrating the Honourable Minister until the pending suit is resolved one way or the other.

“The Honourable Court presided over by Honourable Justice O.C. Agbaza granted the reliefs sought by the Honourable Minister in the morning of 27th October 2021.

“While confirming this position, counsel to the Honourable Minister, Festus Ukpe, Esq of Festus Keyamo Chambers further stated that by virtue of this order, any further denigrating or defamatory publication by Bash Ali against the Honourable Minister is contemptuous of the majesty of the court and is punishable as a crime under our laws.

“The matter is now adjourned till 15th November 2021 for further hearing.”

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