A group of Taekwondo athletes has called on the Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung, to disqualify Mr. Chika Chukwumerije from contesting the position of athletes’ representative in the election into the Nigerian Taekwondo Federation.
The group, which calls itself Concerned Association of Taekwondo Athletes (CATA), made the call in a petition to Mr. Dalung.
Dated May 10 and signed by its Secretary-General, Mr. Umar Mohammed, the petition (Ref. CATA/PET/Vol.3,423) explained that the group’s opposition to Mr. Chukwumerije, an Olympic medallist, is because he physically assaulted two female athletes in Abuja while they were in camp for 2015 All Africa Games.
The allegedly assaulted athletes were named as Fatima Abdullahi and Esther Nzokwu.
“We believe by all manners and standards that he is not eligible to represent the Nigeria Taekwondo athletes,” the petition stated
The group also noted that a petition on the assault of the athletes was submitted to the offices of the Minister of Sports and Youth Development, President of the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation as well as the Secretary-General of the federation.
The group, however, alleged that despite acknowledging receipt of the petition, none of the offices did anything about the issues raised. Mr. Chukwumerije, added CATA, filed a case before a court. The case, the group noted, is yet to be determined.
“It is in the light of the above that we are calling on the Honorable Minister of Sports to disqualify and bar Mr. Chika Chukwumerije from contesting any position pending the outcome of investigation on the case,” said CATA.
