While alive, Sunday Bada loved the Nigeria
Police Force with a passion. Everywhere he was, Bada was quick to let
everyone know that he was a police officer who loved his job.
As a celebrated sports personality, Bada and Atlanta Olympic long jump gold medallist, Chioma Ajunwa, were the face of the police. The two of them were inspirations to other police sports men and women.
At 6ft plus, Bada's image in his police uniform, made the mobile unit of the force very enticing. He was a gentleman and an officer.
But on December 12, 2011, death snatched him away at just 42 years while still in service. Cardiac related problems ended his dream of making it to his retirement from the police. While the sports world was deep in shock, including the world athletics body, IAAF, sending condolences to its Nigerian affiliate, police authorities promised to do everything to keep his memory alive.
Members of his immediate family, his wife (Sumbo) and two sons (Tobi, Timilehin) and daughter (Teniola) took solace in what the police promised to do for their departed bread winner.
However, one year and eight months gone bye, the Badas are yet to hear from the police. Neither his entitlements nor his pensions, (if any), have been paid.
Bada's widow was even asked to pay back N120, 000 to the police treasury as over payment on her late husband's last salary paid to his account before anything can be done to compute his entitlements. Sumbo complied immediately. Since then, it has been one story or the other.
Determined not to allow the death of her husband truncate her children's education, Sumbo who runs a boutique on Toyin Street in Ikeja and also into telecommunications and building, had to relocate to Dublin, Ireland for greener pastures.
Bada's teammates who were to have been honoured last Wednesday by President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, 13 years after doing Nigeria proud, winning the Sydney Olympic gold medal (following the disqualification of Team USA quartet), were all shocked to hear Sumbo's story.
While waiting for the vehicle to take her and the ex athletes namely, Enefiok Udo-Obong, Jude Monye, Clement Chukwu, Nduka Awazie and Fidelis Gadzama to the Villa for the Presidential reception, Sumbo revealed to THISDAY what she has been going through with the police.
As a celebrated sports personality, Bada and Atlanta Olympic long jump gold medallist, Chioma Ajunwa, were the face of the police. The two of them were inspirations to other police sports men and women.
At 6ft plus, Bada's image in his police uniform, made the mobile unit of the force very enticing. He was a gentleman and an officer.
But on December 12, 2011, death snatched him away at just 42 years while still in service. Cardiac related problems ended his dream of making it to his retirement from the police. While the sports world was deep in shock, including the world athletics body, IAAF, sending condolences to its Nigerian affiliate, police authorities promised to do everything to keep his memory alive.
Members of his immediate family, his wife (Sumbo) and two sons (Tobi, Timilehin) and daughter (Teniola) took solace in what the police promised to do for their departed bread winner.
However, one year and eight months gone bye, the Badas are yet to hear from the police. Neither his entitlements nor his pensions, (if any), have been paid.
Bada's widow was even asked to pay back N120, 000 to the police treasury as over payment on her late husband's last salary paid to his account before anything can be done to compute his entitlements. Sumbo complied immediately. Since then, it has been one story or the other.
Determined not to allow the death of her husband truncate her children's education, Sumbo who runs a boutique on Toyin Street in Ikeja and also into telecommunications and building, had to relocate to Dublin, Ireland for greener pastures.
Bada's teammates who were to have been honoured last Wednesday by President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, 13 years after doing Nigeria proud, winning the Sydney Olympic gold medal (following the disqualification of Team USA quartet), were all shocked to hear Sumbo's story.
While waiting for the vehicle to take her and the ex athletes namely, Enefiok Udo-Obong, Jude Monye, Clement Chukwu, Nduka Awazie and Fidelis Gadzama to the Villa for the Presidential reception, Sumbo revealed to THISDAY what she has been going through with the police.
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