10th October, 2014
Taiwo Adelu
Nigerian boxer, Bashiru Lawrence Ali (OON), who was detained by the Police, was Thursday arraigned at the Chief Magistrate Court, Abuja Wuse Zone 6.
On Wednesday, Bash Ali, World Boxing Federation, WBF, cruiserweight champion, was at the headquarters of NEXIM Bank in Abuja to see its Managing Director, Robert Orya to demand the release of N150 million financial support to aid the hosting of his Guinness World Record Boxing fight, but he was arrested by the men of Nigerian police attached to the Divisional Police Station Federal Secretariat in Abuja when he arrived the premises of the bank.
P.M.NEWS Sports gathered that Bash Ali was however arraigned at the Magistrate Court for allegedly disturbing public peace at the NEXIM Bank premises.
The court of Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna was told by a team of five lawyers of NEXIM Bank that the ageless boxer had several times came to the premises of their client to disturb smooth operation of its business. Bash Ali, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge. The Magistrate, who adjourned the case to 30 October, 2014, granted the boxer bail in the sum of N150, 000 bond with a surety who must show a proof of residing in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja. He also ordered the plaintiffs, NEXIM Bank and the Police not to harass the boxer as the matter is now in his court.
Dr. Ango of the National Hospital, Abuja, who is a member of the Local Organising Committee, LOC, of the Guinness World Record Boxing fight, stood as surety for the boxer.
The world cruiserweight champion, who pleaded with the court for an accelerated hearing of the case, told reporters that President Goodluck Jonathan has given the Federal Government’s support for the epic fight. This, he said, led to the setting up of the of the 14-man LOC headed by former Minister of Sports, Bala Kawa Ka’Oje.
“It’s so unfortunate that some people are disregarding Mr. President’s mandate on this fight, but I will not relent until they do the right thing,” he said.
Bash Ali is planning to take on American Rick Camlin, a 32-year-old International Boxing Union (IBU) champion during the Guinness World Record Boxing fight.