Court Dismisses Bash Ali’s Suit Against Ex-Minister Sunday Dare, Labels It Frivolous

An Abuja High Court has struck out a suit filed by former world cruiserweight boxing champion, Bash Ali, against former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, describing the case as frivolous and a waste of judicial time.

Delivering judgment in the case marked FCT/HC/CV/6411/2023, Justice U.P. Kekemeke of Court 4, High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Maitama, declared the matter statute-barred and effectively terminated the suit.

Ali had sued Dare, the Federal Government, and D.A. Muhammad, a former Director of Legal Services at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, over alleged contractual obligations related to a proposed Guinness Book of World Records boxing fight.

However, the court ruled that there was no valid or enforceable contract signed by the ministry or Sunday Dare to host such an event. It also dismissed Ali’s persistent allegations and accusations spanning five years as baseless.

Representing Sunday Dare in court were prominent legal practitioners, Bode Olanipekun and a team from Festus Keyamo Chambers.

The ruling brings to a close years of public defamation and unsubstantiated claims by Bash Ali against Dare and other past Sports Ministers. At least five former ministers are reported to have endured similar unfounded attacks from the retired boxer.