NJF Bans Judoka For Double Registration

The Nigeria Judo Federation (NJF) has announced the ban of a Judoka, Junior Egbagbe-Segemo, representing Edo, from participation in the ongoing National Sports Festival over alleged double registration.

It was learnt that Egbagbe-Segemo with registration number 8,225 was registered as a Rivers athlete in January but later defected to Edo.

Also, before his defection he had collected N180,000 from Rivers as his salary and emolument as stipulated in the terms of his agreement.

Aliu Mohammed, Technical Director of the NJF, who confirmed the ban explained that the sanction was indefinite.

According to him, the judoka is banned from participation in any future festival until otherwise decided by the federation.

He said that the judoka had contravened the rules guiding the sports festival and would have to face the consequence which was the ban.

Mohammed warned that the NJF would not view lightly any athlete with criminal tendencies that could ridicule the image of the sport and the federation.

He also said that Egbagbe-Segemo would return the N180,000 he collected from Rivers.

“What he did was criminal, we would have handed him over to the police but we do not want to cause unnecessary scene.

“He has been banned from representing any state in this festival or subsequent ones,“ the technical adviser said.

Efforts to speak with the athlete or the coaches of the two states were rebuffed as they almost caused a scene at the Civic Centre, Venue of the judo event.