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By Our Reporter
…..Challenges rumour peddlers to substantiate claim with credible evidence
The leadership of the Oyo State chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) have denied the claim that they received the sum of Two hundred and fifty thousand naira from the State Commissioner of Youths and Sports, Honourable Wasilat Adegoke after the FIFA Women’s Under 20 World Cup Qualifier between Nigeria and Rwanda.
In a disclaimer issued by the State Chairman of the Association, Mr Ayomiku Ajibola to debunk the claim, Oyo SWAN describes the assertion as a malicious rumour and falsehood fabricated to tarnish the reputation of the Association.
“The Oyo SWAN Executive Committee never received any amount of money, whether #250,000 or any other sum, from the Honourable Commissioner, Hon. Wasilat Adegoke”, Oyo SWAN Chairman asserted.
“This claim is entirely false and fabricated to tarnish the reputation of the Association”, Ajibola added.
The Oyo SWAN Chairman challenged “peddlers of this baseless rumour to come forward with any credible evidence to substantiate their claim”.
The leadership of the umbrella body of sports journalists in the state urged members of the public to disregard the falsehood.
The allegation and denial followed the strained relationship between the State Ministry of Youths and Sports and the umbrella body of sports journalists in the state.
Recall that Oyo SWAN had last month expressed its displeasure at the exclusion of the bonafide members of the Association from the press brief organized ahead of the Nigeria vs Rwanda game by the State Ministry of Youths and Sports, an action it termed as a disregard of the Association by the Ministry.
Oyo SWAN therefore demanded for an apology from the State Commissioner of Youths and Sports for sidelining accredited SWAN members from the the press conference.
As at the time filing this report, the Sports Commissioner is yet to respond to the grievance and demand of Oyo SWAN.
