The head of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Tonobok Okowa, has stated that the 27-month U.S. federal jail term imposed on sprinter Godson Oghenebrume won't mark the conclusion of his athletic journey, promising that Nigeria will accept him back once he finishes his sentence and is sent back, according to The PUNCH.
"It’s unfortunate, yet events occur in life. Should he ultimately be deported, we'll bring him back," Okowa said during an exclusive conversation with The PUNCH.
We're sorry to hear about it, but we won't turn him away. He possesses the ability to make a comeback, and this won't mark the end of his career.
Oghenebrume, aged 23, received a sentencing from U.S. Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick following his admission of guilt regarding possession of a weapon while holding an F-1 student visa. According to a statement released by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Louisiana on Tuesday, the athlete, who entered the nation with a temporary visa, will face expulsion or deportation once he finishes serving his sentence.
The situation originated from a home-related event on February 7, 2025, at his residence in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. As reported by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Oghenebrume fired a gun during a dispute with his former girlfriend—also the mother of his young child—at the time when the baby was nearby.
Subsequently, he fired the gun several times while his former girlfriend ran away from the location, with visible bullet marks found on the walls of the residential building.
As soon as deputies from the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office arrived, Oghenebrume moved away from them, disregarding their orders, and threw a Glock model 43X, 9mm handgun into nearby bushes prior to his arrest.
He later received charges and pleaded guilty in December 2025, at a time when he could have been sentenced to up to 15 years in jail and fined $250,000.
The punishment represents a major blow for one of Nigeria's quickest sprinters. Oghenebrume, the younger sibling of multi-medal-winning long jumper Ese Brume, has a lifetime best time of 9.90 seconds in the 100 meters and climbed the rankings at LSU to emerge as an exceptional college competitor.
He served as a substitute for Nigeria in the 4x100 meters relay at the Tokyo Olympics and earned a silver medal at the 2023 NCAA Championships as a member of the LSU squad that established an NCAA record in the relay event.
His sentence sees him join an increasing number of Nigerian athletes who have been handed jail terms in the US in recent years, after previous convictions of ex-sprinters Raymond Ekevwo, Toluwani Adebakin, Aniekeme Etim, and Uyoyo Mercy Abire, who were each found guilty in different federal cases involving global fraud and financial crimes.
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