The Imo State Sports commissioner, Rodney Ajaelu has said Rio Paralympics Gold medallist, Lauritta Onye was not rewarded by the state because he “doesn’t know her”.

Onye had lamented her exclusion from the one million naira and car gift given to Imo indigenes by Governor Rochas Okorocha.

Okorocha had rewarded three powerlifters from the state namely Roland Ezeruike, Ndidi Nwosu and Josephine Orji, who all won gold medals in Rio.

“I’m from Imo State but I don’t know why this is happening. I told one of the Imo coaches to add me on the list because it’s my state but he refused, saying I’m not resident in Imo. They said the reward was only for those who work with Imo State,” Onye said.

Ajaelu however said the others were rewarded because they represented the state.

“I don’t know her, after winning a gold medal, she should have presented her case. I’m the sports commissioner but she never told me, she never told the governor. She came back and sat in Lagos; she should have come here so that the governor could see her,” he said.

Azeez