A prominent FIFA-licensed football agent has issued a 14-day ultimatum to former Super Eagles coach Samson Siasia, demanding ₦250 million in damages and a public apology over allegedly defamatory statements about a bribery attempt during Nigeria’s 2008 Olympics preparations.
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John Shittu, through his legal representatives at Lagos-based law firm Godwin Dick Inyang & Co., has threatened to institute a defamation lawsuit against Siasia unless he meets the demands before the ultimatum expires.
The legal dispute stems from remarks made by Siasia during a widely circulated interview on Elegbete TV, published on Monday, June 30, on YouTube, where he made explosive claims about alleged corruption in Nigerian football.
In the disputed interview, Siasia claimed that Mikel Obi’s agent at the time offered him €50,000 to facilitate the inclusion of the then-Chelsea midfielder in Nigeria’s U-23 squad for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
According to Siasia’s account, the alleged offer was made after Mikel failed to honour national call-ups during the qualifiers for the tournament.
“Mikel wasn’t a starter at Chelsea then, he was on the bench,” Siasia claimed during the interview. “I told him we only had one game against Ghana to play – ‘please come and help us’. I said if he doesn’t come, he won’t go anywhere. But Mikel refused to come, saying he was playing for Chelsea.”
The former coach further alleged: “Going to the Olympics, Mikel wants to come and play. His agent said he would give me €50,000 so Mikel should play. I said it’s not about €50,000. He didn’t play the qualifiers, so I will take out someone that qualified us and bring you in? It won’t happen. That’s why Mikel didn’t go.”
Shittu’s legal team has categorically denied the allegations, describing them as “malicious and grossly defamatory” and a deliberate attempt to smear the agent’s character.
The pre-action notice, signed by principal solicitor Godwin Inyang, maintains that the statements are “categorically false and amount to a deliberate attempt to smear Mr Shittu’s character.”
The legal complaint notes that the allegations, now widely published by media platforms including Sahara Reporters and Soccernet.ng, have “severely tarnished Mr Shittu’s reputation in local and international football communities.”
The law firm has outlined several specific demands that Siasia must meet within the 14-day deadline:
Public Retraction and Apology:
- A comprehensive public retraction of the defamatory comments on all platforms where they were originally published
- Publication of a formal written apology in at least two widely circulated national newspapers, including The Punch and ThisDay
- Apologies on online news sites where the remarks gained traction
Future Conduct:
- A written assurance that Siasia will refrain from making any similar or related defamatory statements against Shittu in the future
Financial Compensation:
- Payment of ₦250 million to cover defamation damages, including loss of reputation, goodwill, and other consequential damages
According to the letter dated July 3, failure to comply with these demands will result in “full legal action, including a lawsuit seeking aggravated damages, a court-ordered injunction, and further relief the court may deem appropriate.”
The pre-action notice has reportedly been sent to Siasia, though receipt by the former Super Eagles coach could not be independently confirmed at the time of reporting.
Attempts to reach Siasia for comment were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to calls or messages.
The current legal dispute adds to the legal challenges that have dogged Siasia’s career in recent years. In 2019, the former national team coach was handed a life ban by FIFA after being found guilty of agreeing to accept bribes in connection with match-fixing.
While the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) later reduced the sanction to a five-year suspension, the incident remains a significant stain on his professional history.
Although unrelated to the FIFA case, the current dispute has “stirred renewed scrutiny around issues of ethics and accountability in Nigerian football,” according to legal observers.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about transparency and ethics in Nigerian football administration, particularly regarding player selection and agent relationships.
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