SWAN NEC sets up committee to probe allegations against member

The National Executive Committee of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria has set up a three-member committee to look into allegations levelled against one of its members, Ben Ogbemudia.

This was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by SWAN Secretary-General, Olawale Alabi.

Ogbemudia, who is the Zonal Secretary of SWAN in the South-South, had come under various forms of disciplinary action by the Nigeria National League.

These included an indefinite suspension from his role as Media Officer of Bendel Insurance FC of Benin.

The suspension, however, followed the allegation that he threw stones at the centre referee of the club’s 2016/2017 NNL Match Day 31 fixture against UNICEM Rovers of Calabar.

He was also alleged to have slapped the Second Assistant Referee in the match and was thereafter asked to appear before NNL Compliance Arm on Thursday to defend himself.

According to the statement, the SWAN NEC at an emergency meeting resolved that a committee be set up to look into the allegations and advise accordingly.

The committee, the statement said, has  Alloy Chukwuemeka, a National Ex-Officio Member as Chairman, while Deputy President, Malam Umar Sa’id, and National Financial Secretary, Chigozie Chukwuleta, are members.

The committee is to report back to NEC within seven days.

Reacting to the decision, SWAN President, Honour Sirawoo, said NEC took the decision to underline its seriousness in restoring the dignity of the association.

Sirawoo said: “Our association is a body that comprises of impartial judges and unbiased people, who in their role as the watchdog of the sports society, should live above board and act without sentiment.”