Nigerian sprinter gets 27 months for US gun crime, faces deportation
Nigerian sprinter Godson Oghenebrume received a 27-month US prison sentence for illegal gun possession and now faces deportation.
Nigerian sprinter Godson Oghenebrume has been sentenced to 27 months in a United States federal prison after pleading guilty to unlawfully possessing a firearm while in the country on a student visa. The sentence was handed down by US Chief Judge Shelly Dick in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. After serving his prison term, Oghenebrume is expected to face deportation proceedings.
The incident leading to his arrest occurred on 7 February 2025. Oghenebrume, who was in the United States on an F-1 non-immigrant student visa, admitted to possessing a Glock 43X 9mm pistol, an act prohibited under federal law for individuals with his immigration status. Investigators said the incident began when Oghenebrume’s former girlfriend, with whom he shares a child, visited his apartment with their infant. An argument reportedly erupted outside the residence before escalating into a violent confrontation. Authorities alleged that Oghenebrume fired the handgun during the dispute while the infant was nearby. The confrontation continued after the pair returned to the apartment complex, where additional shots were allegedly fired as the woman attempted to flee. Several rounds reportedly struck the walls of the residential building. Deputies from the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene and alleged that Oghenebrume ignored their commands before attempting to discard the firearm by throwing it into nearby bushes. He was subsequently arrested.
The conviction brings to a close a case that drew attention in both Nigeria and the United States. Following the completion of his sentence, Oghenebrume is expected to be placed in immigration custody pending deportation proceedings.
The winners: US law enforcement, which secured a conviction. The losers: Oghenebrume, whose athletic career is effectively over, and Nigeria, which loses another promising talent to the consequences of a single poor decision.
Bottom Line: A 27-month sentence and deportation. One mistake, one gun, one career ended.