Popular Nigerian boxer, and World Boxing Federation (WBF)
Cruiserweight boxing champion, Bash Ali (OON), is currently
cooling his heels at a Kuje, Abuja prison.
NigerianEye gathered on Monday morning through a text
message.
The text message reads thus: “The labour of our heroes shall
not be in vain. I have been in Kuje Prison since Thursday
without food and with tough criminals because I said ‘No’ to
corruption at a Bank (name withheld). My court case is March
5. A revolution has started. Champ Bash Ali, OON.”
When our correspondent reached the boxer after several
attempts on phone, he further revealed the genesis of his
ordeal. “The Executive Director, Customer Services, of the
bank invited me on Wednesday, but to my shock, he was not
there, so he told me to wait.
“While waiting, the Managing Director of the Bank, came and
ordered the security to beat us. The head of one of the LOC
members of Bash Ali Guinness Book of World Records fight,
was broken. It was from there we were taken to SARS and
detained and now I’m at Kuje Prison,” the champ said with a
tinge of regret.
“On Thursday we were arraigned at the Magistrate’s Court,
Cotonou Street at Wuse Zone 6. At the end of the proceedings
the Chief Magistrate agreed to grant me bail of N1 million
with surety of a Level 10 Federal worker, which I refused. This
forced the police to remand me at Kuje Prison till 4 March
when the case will come up again.
“Fellow Nigerians, is this how we will allow corruption to
continue in our dear country?” said Bash Ali through a text
message he sent out at the weekend.
NE gathered from a police source that Bash Ali is being tried
for criminal trespass, obstruction in public way, wrongful
restraint and criminal intimidation, contrary to Sections 79,
85, 348, 194, 266 and 397 of penal code.
The source said that Ali was arrested on Wednesday at about
2p.m after one Mr. Bisong Peter of NEXIM Bank reported him
at the Central Police Station. He was arrested alongside five
others when he trespassed into the premises on the bank,
using a bus to block the entrance into the building, thereby
restricting staff from getting into their offices.
