The ongoing 23rd edition of the National Judiciary Games at the U.J Esuene Stadium, Calabar has been invaded by non-bona fide players and athletes.
The week-long sports fiesta, which kicked off last Thursday, was meant for judiciary staff nationwide.
However, owing to poor screening exercise by the organising committee, it was learnt on Monday that mercenaries had invaded football, athletics, volleyball and handball among the 10 sporting events which about 30 affiliated bodies under the National Sports Association for Judiciary are competing for medals.
One of the athletes who pleaded anonymity accused organisers of the competition as being only interested in enriching themselves.
He said: “The officials are just interested in what gets into their pockets than doing the needful to ensure that proper screening is done to eliminate the mercenaries as some contingents want to win by all means.
“For instance, the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal club sides playing in the National Football League are bent on utilising their status to subdue other opponents. Some of their players are not judiciary staff.”
Another athlete from the National Industrial Court who simply identified himself as Umaru complained that some of the competitors had vowed to win at all costs.
“The win-at-all-costs contraption by the opponents is very disturbing as some of those cleared to feature were by proxy against expectations and laid down principles of the games.
“We thought that the games was meant for recreation and to promote friendship and good working relations among staff of the judiciary, but now reduced to quarrel and disenchantment because of mischief,” he said.
In his reaction, President of the National Sports Association for Judiciary, Mr Emeka Ndili, could not rule out the allegation that mercenaries had infiltrated the games.
“In a competition of this nature, irresponsible officials do present non-judiciary staff, but it is left to the screening committee to screen them out. The game is meant for judiciary staff alone,” Emeka said.
He did not however explain the modalities of the screening but insisted that the objectives of NASAJ are being realised despite the odds.
In the official opening football match, the Cross River State Judiciary football team stunned their star-studded Supreme Court counterparts 1-0.
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