Former Sharks of Port Harcourt star and icon of the Nigerian Skilled Soccer League (NPFL), Victor Ezeji has spoken at size about his current Invitation for questioning by the police in addition to Financial And Monetary Crimes Fee (EFCC), Sports247 studies.
Whereas a piece of the media revealed a report that the ex-international defrauded some individuals, which led to his invitation by Rivers State Police Command in Port Harcourt and the EFCC in Lagos, Ezeji burdened that it was solely a case of ‘confusion attributable to logistics points.’
He expressed dismay with how a newspaper went to press with the story, which the previous attacker, who additionally performed for Eagle Cement FC and Dolphins of Port Harcourt in addition to Enyimba of Aba, Sunshine Stars of Akure and Heartland of Owerri, stated was misrepresented.
Ezeji, who’s essentially the most adorned participant ever within the home league, added that he has been quiet because the matter got here up about two months in the past, whereas making an attempt to kind himself out with safety and anti-graft companies, however determined to talk after receiving a number of calls from pals, associates and members of the soccer group.
“At the start, I’m not a legal and have by no means been concerned in crime of any variety all my life and can by no means be concerned,” stated Ezeji, who additionally beforehand performed for Membership Africain of Tunisia.
“I used my God-given expertise to make a reputation and residing for myself and household. For 20 years, I adopted my ardour and profession in soccer and even served my fatherland Nigeria within the course of. I toiled night time and day to carve a distinct segment for myself and be a great citizen of my nation.”
He then went on to present particulars of the mix-up, which he stated occurred because of a bussiness transaction that concerned his firm that’s being run by his spouse, whereas he continues holding observe of soccer issues.
Ezeji added at size: “Soccer has been my life and made me who I’m. I ventured into enterprise after my retirement. My firm is concerned in oil and gasoline. My spouse is a director of the corporate. She does enterprise even in my absence, and it has been so for years with out points.
“On this event, someday in June whereas I used to be away, she transacted enterprise with a few individuals. She lifted diesel of about 60,000 litres from the depot and equipped to 2 service stations and a lodge.
“I need to imagine that the unpredictable nature of our enterprise setting today coupled with the untidy logistic preparations concerned in cost, particularly when there’s a time-frame hooked up to the distribution and sale of the merchandise may have stirred up this complete drama whilst I wasn’t instantly concerned within the transaction.”
Ezeji continued by stating that he was not personally concerned within the now contentious deal, as he has different issues to take care of, therefore his shock when the report emerged with what he described as false accusations in opposition to him.
He added: “In all this, I used to be busy with different enterprise considerations associated to soccer since I do seek the advice of for some golf equipment and people. By the point the funds must be cleared, there have been points, I assume.
“At this level, maybe my spouse, who dealt with the transaction, was underneath extreme strain to settle the cost. I additionally guess she couldn’t confront or stand up to these concerned.
“I used to be invited by the police after a criticism was lodged in opposition to me because the proprietor of the corporate. I reported to the police who referred to as the complainant and requested that we resolve our variations.
“This was ongoing when the unhappy story broke. Just a few days later, the EFCC invited me to its Lagos workplace, the place the opposite complainant had written a petition in opposition to me. I travelled to Lagos, and by the grace of God, we’re on the verge of settling the matter.”
The Nigerian legend concluded by reiterating that he’s not a legal and thanked everybody who expressed concern over the controversial difficulty however burdened that he has nothing in opposition to the individuals who turned it right into a matter of concern for safety companies.
“I simply need to state categorically that enterprise occurred, which led to this unhappy growth. That’s the fact. I’m not blaming the individuals concerned for taking the matter to police and EFCC. They’re into enterprise to make a revenue and to outlive to not lose.
“I maintain nothing in opposition to them of their efforts to safe their funds or get better their investments or cash within the transactions. I’m not a legal and can by no means be. I didn’t defraud anybody. Like I stated earlier, I wasn’t instantly concerned within the teansaction.
“Fortunately, the problems are being resolved. Members of the general public, my pals, colleagues, associates, and companions shouldn’t see me within the mild portrayed by the sooner report on this matter.
“It is vitally unlucky that I used to be not contacted for my facet of the story earlier than the publication went to press with such a dangerous report. That is a matter for an additional day. I’m a law-abiding Nigerian and can stay so,” Ezeji concluded.
