FG sacks Elegbeleye, appoints Yakmut

The Federal Government yesterday relieved the Director General of National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, of his duties with immediate effect on the orders of President Goodluck Jonathan.

National Mirror gathered that a Director in the NSC, Mr. Alhassan Yakmut, has also been directed by the Sports Minister, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, to assume office today as the Acting Director General of the Commission.

Investigations revealed that the Danagogo had sought and received approval from the Head of Service of the Federation to appoint Yakmut as replacement for the former director of sports, Dr. Bolajo Ojo-Oba, who retired from the NSC last July after his mandatory 35 years of service.

Although Elegbeleye had received an order to that effect from Danagogo, he had failed to implement accordingly, as he apparently preferred an Assistant Director in the NSC, Mrs. Hauwa Kulu Akinyemi, for the director general’s position, contrary to the Civil Service procedure, as Yakmut is her senior in rank.

National Mirror, however, gathered that a distraught Danagogo who was displeased by the undue vacancy of the position had taken the matter directly to President Jonathan who ordered the action that led to Elegbeleye’s sack yesterday.

Further investigations revealed that the sacked DG had also angered the minister by the apparent delay in giving approval to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to resolve the impasse arising from re-engagement of Stephen Keshi as Super Eagles coach as it was understood that Elegbeleye preferred any other coach to Keshi, although he did not divulge his preference until he was removed from office.

National Mirror learnt that Yakmut will assume his new duty at 10am today at the NSC office in Abuja after a brief handover by the sacked former director general.