Nigerian sprinter Godson Oghenebrume gets 27 months in US prison and faces deportation

Nigerian sprinter Godson Oghenebrume has received a 27-month sentence in a federal prison in the United States. US Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick handed down the sentence after Oghenebrume pleaded guilty to having a firearm while on an F-1 student visa.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Louisiana shared this information in a statement on Tuesday. They noted that Oghenebrume entered the United States with a non-immigrant F-1 student visa. He is also at risk of being removed or deported from the United States once he finishes his sentence.

"A Nigerian national residing in Baton Rouge was convicted for possession of a firearm by an alien admitted under a non-immigrant visa. He is also subject to removal or deportation from the United States upon completion of his sentence," the statement said.

The statement detailed events leading to the indictment. On the night of February 7, 2025, Oghenebrume was at his apartment when an ex-girlfriend, who is also the mother of his baby, came over with their child.

Oghenebrume was in the apartment with another young woman. When he went outside, an argument started between him and the mother of his child. During this argument, while the baby was there, Oghenebrume fired the gun.

The statement continued that Oghenebrume returned to his apartment. His ex-girlfriend then opened the door, saw him with the other woman, and they began to argue. The argument spilled outside, and Oghenebrume fired the gun several times as the mother of his child ran away. Several bullet holes were found in the walls of the apartment complex.

"Oghenebrume smashed his ex-girlfriend’s phone and took the baby, who had been present throughout the incident. Oghenebrume’s ex-girlfriend approached the other woman, who was trying to leave, and asked for help to get the baby. She agreed to help and managed to get the child from Oghenebrume."

When East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s deputies arrived, Oghenebrume walked away from them and threw the Glock model 43X, 9mm pistol into some bushes. He was arrested shortly after. Deputies spoke to a neighbor who confirmed hearing the gunshots and said his ears were ringing.

This news has caused mixed reactions online. Many Nigerians expressed sadness about the athlete’s downfall. "You never gain ground; you wan dey form gangsta?" tweeted #iam_Tosin01. Another user, #FablosJanny, wrote, "Over two years, Godson don buy market."

#toondeeh shared a warning, saying, "A lesson for everyone: know and respect the laws of the country you’re in." Meanwhile, #BigDowat asked, "Abi them set am up ni, if not he foolish gan oo."

Some comments pointed out the dangers of carrying guns abroad. "How will you be on student visa and possess firearm? That’s a risky game," posted #AbuYusro0x. Others focused on how this could affect his career, with #Recruitmentupd1 noting, "Ohh my God, this is not good. His visa will most likely be revoked after this."

PUNCH Sports Extra previously reported Oghenebrume’s guilty plea in December 2025. He faced a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.

This sentencing is a big setback for the young sprinter. He rose from Onoriede International School in Nigeria to become a top athlete at LSU. His achievements include being part of relay teams that won national titles and boosting Nigeria’s athletics reputation globally.

As Oghenebrume starts his prison term, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria has not released any official statement. This case highlights the strict enforcement of U.S. gun laws, especially for non-immigrants on student visas.

This incident is a serious blow to Oghenebrume’s career as one of Nigeria’s fastest sprinters, with a personal best of 9.90 seconds in the 100m. He previously represented Nigeria as an alternate in the 4x100m relay at the Tokyo Olympics and won silver at the 2023 NCAA Championships as part of the LSU team that set an NCAA record in the 4x100m relay.