Bonfrere Jo petitions senate over ‘unreleased’ land promised after 1996 Olympics triumph

Bonfrere Jo, former coach of Nigeria’s men’s football team, has petitioned the senate over the alleged refusal of the Lagos state government to release a property awarded to him for winning gold at the 1996 Olympics.

The Dutch coach led Nigeria to victory in the football event of the 1996 summer Olympics in Atlanta, defeating teams such as Mexico, Brazil and Argentina.

The triumph made Nigeria the first African country to win the Olympic football gold medal.

In a petition submitted on Thursday to the senate committee on ethics, privileges and public petitions, and copied to the senate committee on sports, Bonfrere said the state has not handed over the land allegedly allocated to him by Olagunsoye Oyinlola, then military governor of Lagos.

The letter, signed by T.O. Adejoh and Company, his legal representative, asked the senate to summon the Lagos state government to explain the alleged refusal to allocate the plot.

The petition also asked the senate to investigate the circumstances surrounding the missing allocation and “ensure that justice is served”.

It further urged the senate to pressure Lagos state to either release the original land or allocate another “befitting plot commensurate with the achievement of the team”.

Speaking after submitting the petition, Eze Okechukwu, media aide to Bonfrere, said the matter has lingered for 29 years.

He said all members of the Atlanta 1996 team and the coaching staff received their land allocations except Bonfrere.

He listed Kanu Nwankwo, Jay-Jay Okocha, Daniel Amokachi, Taribo West, Emmanuel Amuneke and Tijani Babangida among those who allegedly received theirs.

Okechukwu questioned why Bonfrere’s allocation has not been honoured.

He said that winning Olympic gold in football has not been repeated by any Nigerian coach.

Okechukwu expressed confidence in Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s support, describing him as a sports enthusiast.

He said Akpabio understands the value of global sporting success and would ensure “the right thing is done”.

Okechukwu said Bonfrere had made several attempts to resolve the matter with Lagos state authorities, including seeking an audience with Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos.

He said those attempts were unsuccessful.

He said Bonfrere had also sought the assistance of the late Ifeanyi Ubah, senator representing Anambra south, to facilitate a meeting before Ubah’s death.

Okechukwu expressed hope that Sanwo-Olu would review the case when fully briefed.

After the Olympic gold, the federal government also pledged to reward the Dutch coach.

The promise was left unfulfilled for 22 years until 2018, when Babatunde Fashola, former minister for works and housing, handed Jo the keys to a three-bedroom apartment in the Gwagwalada area of Abuja.(The Cable)