The Abuja High Court has struck out the ₦500 billion lawsuit filed by former boxer Bash Ali against former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare, and the National Sports Commission, effectively bringing the long-running legal battle to an end.

In a ruling delivered by Justice U.P. Kekemeke of Court 4, High Court of the FCT, Maitama, the court dismissed the case as frivolous, lacking merit, and a waste of judicial time. The judgment followed strong arguments led by Bode Olanipekun (SAN) and the legal team from Festus Keyamo Chambers.

The court ruled that the case was statute-barred and confirmed that no valid contract existed between the Ministry or Mr. Dare and Bash Ali regarding the much-publicized Guinness World Record boxing project.

Key Findings from the Ruling:

1. False $12 Million Allegation:
The court clarified that Mr. Dare had no involvement in the alleged $12 million payment to a former Chief of Staff or any such transaction. At the time of the supposed incident, he was not in office and never treated any related file during his tenure.

2. Misrepresented Settlement as "Extortion":
Bash Ali had claimed Mr. Dare and the Ministry's legal department extorted ₦13 million from him. In reality, the Ministry legally settled a battery case initially awarded at ₦28 million during Solomon Dalung’s tenure. Upon Mr. Dare’s assumption of office, a newly negotiated settlement of ₦15 million was agreed upon, signed by both parties, and duly paid to Bash Ali through his legal representatives.
The ₦13 million difference is now being falsely portrayed by Ali as extortion—a claim the court found baseless.

3. No Official Endorsement of Guinness Fight:
Despite Ali’s long campaign, five Sports Ministers and five Presidents have failed to endorse or support the proposed Guinness World Record boxing match.
The Ministry, under Mr. Dare, reviewed the project and, following Presidential briefing, issued a formal letter on January 7, 2020, warning Bash Ali against spreading false claims of government approval. The letter was signed by the Ministry’s Director of Legal Services and also sent to Ali’s legal counsel.

4. Pattern of Defamation and Blackmail:
The court noted a disturbing trend in Bash Ali’s approach—having targeted and made similar unfounded allegations against at least five former Sports Ministers.
For over 19 years, Ali has attempted to push forward the Guinness fight proposal, but without any legally binding contract or official government approval.

Conclusion:

This ruling exposes the falsehoods behind Bash Ali’s claims and clears the name of former Minister Sunday Dare and officials of the Ministry. The judgment reaffirms the importance of evidence-based litigation and brings long-awaited closure to a case riddled with misinformation, personal attacks, and reputational damage.