Godson Oghenebrume has been sentenced to 27 months in a United States federal prison after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm while on an F-1 student visa.The sentence was handed down by Shelly D. Dick, according to a statement issued by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Louisiana. Authorities said Oghenebrume, a Nigerian national living in Baton Rouge on a non-immigrant F-1 student visa, will also face removal or deportation from the United States after completing his prison sentence.
According to court documents, the incident occurred on February 7, 2025, when Oghenebrume became involved in an argument with his former girlfriend, who had arrived at his apartment with their infant child. Prosecutors said the athlete, who was inside the apartment with another woman, went outside during the confrontation and discharged a firearm while the child was present.
He later returned to the apartment, but the argument reportedly continued and spilled outside again, where Oghenebrume allegedly fired multiple shots as his former girlfriend fled. Investigators found several bullet impacts on the walls of the apartment complex. Authorities further alleged that he smashed his former girlfriend’s phone and briefly took custody of their child before the other woman present recovered the baby and returned the child to the mother.
When deputies from the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office arrived, Oghenebrume allegedly ignored their commands, walked away and threw a Glock 43X 9mm pistol into nearby shrubs before he was apprehended. Investigators said a neighbour confirmed hearing gunshots and reported ringing in his ears following the incident.
The sentencing has generated mixed reactions online, with many Nigerians expressing disappointment over the athlete’s conviction while others urged Nigerians abroad to respect the laws of their host countries. Oghenebrume had pleaded guilty in December 2025 after initially facing a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
The conviction marks a major setback for the sprinter, who rose from Onoriede International School to become a standout athlete at Louisiana State University (LSU). He owns a personal best of 9.90 seconds in the 100 metres, represented Nigeria as an alternate in the men’s 4x100m relay at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics, and won silver at the 2023 NCAA Championships as part of LSU’s record-breaking 4x100m relay team. The Athletics Federation of Nigeria has yet to issue an official statement on the case.
Source: https://punchng.com/
