By Chris Onokpegu
It will be recalled that elections were conducted into most National Sports Federations last year. However, two federations are yet to conclude their electoral processes: Basketball and Kickboxing.
In the case of basketball, elections were conducted earlier due to internal crises, and preparations are ongoing to conclude outstanding processes. However, the situation surrounding kickboxing appears different, as stakeholders insist that there is no leadership crisis, but rather an unresolved administrative impasse allegedly linked to the insistence by the Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, on the return of former president, Mr. Wilson Okon.
Multiple stakeholders within the Kickboxing Federation of Nigeria (KBFN) have strongly opposed Okon’s return, citing his impeachment and subsequent suspension by the Federation’s Board.
Impeachment and Suspension:
Documents made available to our correspondent indicate that Mr. Wilson Okon was impeached by the KBFN Board on 6 July 2023 in Lagos, following allegations of misconduct. A formal Notice of Impeachment was served on him.
Subsequently, at an emergency board meeting held on 18 May 2024, in Abuja, Okon was suspended for six years.
According to the impeachment letter, Okon was accused of:
✓ Interfering with and disrupting the development of kickboxing in Nigeria
✓ Visa racketeering
✓ Extortion of athletes
✓ Abandonment of kickboxing activities in favour of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)
✓ Gross misadministration
✓ Financial impropriety
On 8 May 2025, the Secretary General of the Federation, issued a Letter of Disclaimer dissociating the Federation from Wilson Okon, who was still parading himself as president despite his suspension.
Copies of the disclaimer and disciplinary letters were circulated to:
~ The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development (now NSC)
~ All State Commissioners for Sports
~ Directors and Directors-General of Sports across states
~ Sports Councils, Clubs, and Military/Paramilitary Sports Units
Board Member Speaks:
When contacted, the outgoing President of the Federation, Dr. Mykel Eneduwa, declined comments. However, a board member, Alhaji Umar Saleh (North-West representative), who also chaired the investigative panel against Okon, spoke.
According to Saleh: “Wilson Okon was running the Federation like a personal business. He ignored board decisions and handled finances single-handedly.”
He alleged that Okon was involved in visa racketeering, misappropriation of Federation funds, and refusal to operate a Federation-approved bank account.
“Even when the Police supported the Federation with ₦5 million, he could not account for the money.”
Saleh further alleged that Okon manipulated competition outcomes: “Medals were sold to the highest bidders. Some states received medals without participating. In one festival, a particular state received almost two-thirds of all medals. That is impossible in a fair competition.”
He also accused Okon of frustrating Coaches who paid for international training Courses, withholding passports until events were over, cancelling board-approved technical appointments, refusing to hold meetings, and deliberately avoiding record-keeping.
Additionally, Okon was accused of forging board resolutions and official letterheads to represent Nigeria internationally without authorization.
He even forged a board resolution to the then Federal Ministry of Sports to co-opt people on the board without board approval.
He brought people to disrupt board meetings and fight board members during meetings.
He refused to recognize the technical director approved by the board, frustrating the activities of the Federation.
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