By Kanu Samuel
The General Manager of the Ondo State Sports Council, Mrs Evelyn Lebi, has dismissed allegations that the council withheld the benefits of late coach Sunday Mathias, popularly known as IK, from a woman claiming to be his widow.
Lebi said the matter was already before the Ondo State Ministry of Justice and was therefore beyond the authority of the Sports Council to determine.
Speaking during an interview in Akure, she explained that she assumed office on 5 January 2026, after the coach’s death, and had no involvement in the events surrounding the dispute before her appointment.
According to her, one of the first issues brought to her attention after taking office was the disagreement over the deceased’s entitlements. She said she immediately sought clarification from members of the council’s management who were in office at the time of the coach’s death.
“I was informed that the matter had already been taken to the Ministry of Justice and that officials from the ministry had previously visited the Sports Council to investigate the case,” she said.
Lebi stated that because the dispute is before the Ministry of Justice, the council cannot independently process or release the deceased’s benefits until the matter is resolved through the appropriate legal channels.
She added that the council’s official records identify the late coach’s immediate younger sister as his next of kin, making her the person legally recognised to process his entitlements.
According to the General Manager, information available to the council and from members of the deceased’s family indicated that the woman seeking the benefits was not legally married to the late coach, although she claimed to have two children with him.
“We deal with official records as an organisation, not emotions. The deceased’s file identifies his younger sister as the next of kin,” Lebi said.
She disclosed that she personally contacted the deceased’s younger sister, who resides in Abuja, and encouraged her to travel to Akure to begin processing the benefits, particularly in view of the welfare of the children the claimant said she had with the late coach.
According to Lebi, the deceased’s sister cited transportation difficulties and other family commitments as reasons for the delay but assured her that she would travel to Akure to commence the process.
The Sports Council boss stressed that disputes involving the benefits of deceased public servants are governed by established civil service procedures and, where disagreements arise, are handled by the Ministry of Justice.
Lebi also condemned allegations made against her during a radio programme by an independent producer, who accused her of frustrating the family left behind by the late coach.
She described the allegations as “malicious and wicked”, saying they amounted to a personal attack on her and the Sports Council despite her efforts to facilitate the processing of the benefits by contacting the recognised next of kin.
She urged media organisations to verify information thoroughly before publishing or broadcasting allegations, warning against the dissemination of unverified claims.
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