Solomon Dalung Responds To The Report That Mikel Paid $4000 To Free Squad After Hotel Officials Delayed Them Over Bills

John Mikel Obi reportedly paid $4000 to free the
Olympic football squad after the team was held
to ransom by hotel officials in Sao Paulo over bills
incurred by additional NFF officials. The Minister
of Sports and Youth Development, Solomon
Dalung, has denied the report through a
statement released on the Minister’s official
Facebook page and signed by Nneka Ikem-
Anibeze, his Special Adviser on Media .The
statement read;
The attention of the Ministry of Youth and
Sports has again been drawn to the news that
Team Nigeria’s Captain John Mikel Obi paid
hotel bills accruing from the 8 unaccredited
players and officials in Rio with the National
U-23 team.
According to the Minister of Youth and Sports
Barrister Solomon Dalung, the chief coach of the
team Samson Siasia in company of another official
had come knocking on his door at about 4am Sao
Paolo time.
“Siasia was in my room early this morning and
said the hotel security had refused to allow the
team leave the hotel due to unpaid hotel bills.
I also lodged in the same hotel with the
Permanent Secretary and other members of
the National Assembly who came to watch the
match against Columbia. I told him to add the
bill to the permanent Secretary’s bill so that
he can clear it alongside other bills. The
amount incurred by the excess officials and
players is $4,600. When we checked out of the
hotel, the money was added and the
Permanent Secretary paid all outstanding bills.
I am surprised to hear and read that Mikel Obi
saved an embarrassing situation by paying the
bills” Dalung stated.
The Minister also restated that 8 unofficially
accredited persons have been following the team
since they left Atlanta including 4 players and 4
officials. The organizers of the games, the
International Olympic Committee are only
responsible for 25 accredited players and officials
including feeding, flights and accommodation.
“In Manaus, we were forced to pay camp
allowances to the extra 4 players making 29. As
we speak now, the Nigeria Football Federation
is the only federation that does not have a
single board member on ground. Not even the
Secretary-General is here. So, it is really
unfortunate that this is happening. We have
paid all players and other athletes their first 11
days in camp and the payment of the rest of
the days will commence today( Friday). We
want to plead with the players to shelve all
actions capable of distracting them from their
upcoming game on Saturday against Denmark
and channel all grievances through the
appropriate route. We remain committed to the
welfare of all our athletes in camp as we look
forward to giving them our unhindered
support” Dalung reassured.