How Nigerian Sprinter Godson Oghenebrume Jailed 27 Months in US Over Illegal Firearm Possession
Nigerian sprinter Godson Oghenebrume has been sentenced to 27 months in a United States federal prison after pleading guilty to illegally possessing a firearm while living in the country on a non-immigrant student visa.
The 23-year-old athlete was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Shelly Dick in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, following his guilty plea to violating U.S. federal firearm laws.
Upon completing his prison sentence, Oghenebrume is expected to face federal deportation proceedings.
Incident That Led to His Conviction
According to court documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice, the case stemmed from a domestic dispute on February 7, 2025, at Oghenebrume’s residence in Baton Rouge.
Prosecutors said the athlete’s former partner arrived at his apartment with their infant child and found him in the company of another woman.
An argument reportedly escalated outside the apartment, during which Oghenebrume allegedly fired multiple rounds from a Glock 43X pistol in an attempt to scare her away, leaving bullet holes in the walls of the apartment complex.
Authorities also alleged that he damaged his former partner’s mobile phone and briefly took custody of their infant before the child was safely retrieved by the other woman present at the scene.
When deputies from the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office responded, Oghenebrume reportedly ignored commands from officers and threw the handgun into nearby bushes before he was arrested.
Guilty Plea and Sentence
Federal law in the United States generally prohibits most holders of non-immigrant visas, including F-1 student visa holders, from purchasing or possessing firearms.
Although the offence carried a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, Oghenebrume received a 27-month prison sentence after pleading guilty in December 2025.
Career Interrupted
The conviction marks a major setback for one of Nigeria’s promising sprint talents.
Oghenebrume enjoyed a successful collegiate career at Louisiana State University (LSU), where he won the 2024 SEC men’s 100 metres title and recorded a personal best of 9.90 seconds in the event.
He was also named as an alternate for Nigeria’s 4x100m relay team at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
As of the time of filing this report, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has not issued an official statement regarding the athlete’s sentencing.
