15:T757,

Former world cruiserweight boxing champion Bash Alli narrowly escaped death twice this afternoon – first from a bullet and then from car tyres – when he laid siege at the headquarters of Nigeria Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) Abuja over a N150 million request.

A RayPower FM Lagos news bulletin said the veteran Nigerian boxer was shot at during an altercation but the bullet missed him.

The report said that the 58 years old Alli who is desperate to stage a Guinness World Book of Records fight was then pushed onto the path of a car which crushed one of his legs.

Another report on the incident by Daily Sun said Alli had mobilised his supporters to the bank’s office as early as 11am to demand the release of N150 million financial support to aid the hosting of his boxing competition.

But instead of attending the meeting earlier scheduled with the Managing Director of the bank, Mr. Robert Orya, Alli laid flat at the entrance of the bank, thus disrupting business and creating an ugly scene.

According to the boxer, he came to the bank following another letter he addressed to the bank dated July 20, which it responded to and invited him for a meeting.

He said the management of the bank denied his supporters entrance but he insisted that his supporters must attend the meeting. This generated a fracas between him and the security before he was overpowered by the securitymen, who pushed him down and a vehicle climbed his legs.

However, Orya had denied Ali’s allegation, saying that NEXIM Bank has no mandate to fund boxing activities.

“Please ask him what he is doing there. I have explained to this man times without number that NEXIM Bank does not have the mandate to sponsor sporting activities,” Orya said.

•Photo shows Bash Alli.

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