The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has made public her plans to take former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel to court over his claims of sponsoring the team’s flight to the 2016 Rio Olympics.
NFF spokesman Ademola Olajire has announced that the federation will prove Mikel wrong in court, stating that while Mikel may have paid for some hotel bills, he did not cover the flight costs and the NFF owes him no money.
The Controversy
Mikel Obi recently revealed on The Peter Crouch Podcast that he personally funded the team’s flight to Rio after government logistics failed, and despite promises of reimbursement, he has yet to receive his money.
Mikel Obi on the Obi one podcast ( source: x)
However, former Sports Minister Solomon Dalung and Olympic team coach Samson Siasia have both refuted Mikel’s claims.
Dalung’s Account
Former Minister for Youth and Sports of the Federation, Solomon Dalung, who was still in office at the period of the 2016 Olympics has dismissed Mikel’s claim, stating that no player, including Mikel, paid for any chartered flight.
“It was Delta Airlines that airlifted the team from Atlanta to Rio as part of their contribution to Team Nigeria. At no time did any player, including Mikel Obi, pay for a chartered flight,” Dalung said.
Former Minister for Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung. ( Source: X)
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Siasia’s Version
Samson Siasia who has coached Mikel Obi at different levels also denied Mikel’s claims, saying,
“Mikel Obi did not pay any flight money for Olympic Eagles from the United States to Brazil for the 2016 Olympics. Nothing like that.”
Former Olympic Eagles coach Samson Siasia disputes Mikel Obi’s claim of funding the team’s flight to Rio 2016, calling for proof of payment.
He challenged Mikel to produce receipts to prove his claim, adding that Yemi Idowu had earlier paid for the team’s flight tickets, but the aircraft was too small
Jinadu’s Claims
Bunmi Jinadu, the organizer of the pre-Olympic camp in Atlanta, disputes Mikel’s claim, stating that Delta Airlines provided the plane for free, despite it ordinarily costing $250,000.
Bummi Jinadu of Delta Airlines with CAF President Patrice Motsepe( Source:X)
The conflicting accounts have left the public wondering who is telling the truth.
The NFF’s decision to take Mikel to court has sparked a heated debate, with many eagerly awaiting the outcome. If the case proceeds, it may shed more light on the circumstances surrounding the team’s travel to the 2016 Olympics.
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The NFF has further directed that Mikel Obi retract his statements or face stringent charges.
The perceived court battle is expected to be intense, with both sides presenting their arguments and evidence.
