English-born Nigerians dump lions den for eagles nest

It’s been cheery news for Nigerian football in recent days after several English-born/raised footballers of Nigerian descent, some of whom have played for England at various youth levels, decided to pledge their international future to the Super Eagles.
The development may not be unconnected with the state they found their predecessors, who were left in a dilemma, after pledging their futures to England only to be discarded after a few caps for the Three Lions.

From John Fashanu to John Salako and on to Ugo Ehiogu, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Carlton Cole, playing for England was a dream come true but perhaps ended in a nightmare, as their international football careers all but came to an end before it had even started.
Ex-Wimbledon forward Fashanu earned just two caps for England – against Chile and Scotland — at the 1989 Rous Cup, preferring to snub calls from Nigeria, his father’s country, to represent them at senior level.
Ex-Crystal Palace midfielder Salako managed five games for the Three Lions while Ugo Ehiogu had four caps. Agbonlahor and Cole earned three and seven caps respectively and found themselves in international football wilderness.
They ended up at best playing fringe roles for England, with no major international tournament to their name. But the likes of then unknown Reuben Agboola, perhaps having seen the handwriting on the wall, chose Nigeria over England.
He made his debut in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Ghana on April 13, 1991, thus becoming one of the first non-Nigerian-born players to represent his native country. The left-back would go on to play at the 1992 AFCON in Senegal, with a bronze medal to show for representing Nigeria.
In 2001, ex-England U-21 manager Howard Wilkinson feared former Newcastle United striker Shola Ameobi would be “kidnapped” by Nigerians.
While inside a hotel just outside Leeds, Wilkinson looked anxious: his plans to give Ameobi his international debut against Finland at Barnsley seemed in jeopardy with news from Lagos suggesting a possible snag.
“I’m worried the Nigerians are going to kidnap Shola,” said Wilkinson. “They want him to play for them.” In the end, England’s team bus was not waylaid, and the businessman the English described as having “West African appearance” spotted checking into the team’s hotel had nothing to do with football and no international calls from Nigeria (the country of Ameobi’s birth) were put through to his room.
However, 13 years later, after he was eventually ‘kidnapped’ by Nigeria courtesy of a plan hatched by the late Stephen Keshi, Ameobi was playing at the World Cup in Brazil at the grand old age of 32, not in England’s colours but for the Super Eagles.
“Possibly playing in a World Cup final is not something I thought was going to happen to me. I always thought I’d be sat in a bar watching the next one but I might play in Brazil now. At my age, it’s refreshing to have that chance, so I’ll be doing everything I can to get there,” Ameobi said with a huge sigh of relief after being part Nigeria’s qualification for the 2014 World Cup.
Over time, players of African descent have often been used by the English, only to be dropped for major tournaments. Recently, Wilfried Zaha, who moved to England with his family aged four, switched allegiance to his country of his parents Ivory Coast, after managing just two caps in four years for the Three Lions.
Interestingly, England manager Gareth Southgate tried to dissuade the 24-year-old from switching allegiance to the former African champions but it was too little too late, as Ivory Coast named him in their squad for the 2017 AFCON.
However, the new trend emerging, has several English-born or English-raised players now willing to commit their international futures to the green and white colours of the Eagles, despite having played for England at junior levels.
The recent successes recorded by the Nigeria Football Federation in convincing European-born players of Nigerian descent like Victor Moses, Steve Ukoh, Williams Troost-Ekong, Leon Balogun, Joel Bazee, Tyronne Ebuehi and Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi, who was born in Lagos but raised in England, to commit their futures to the country of their parents, is perhaps a major factor in others wanting to join the team.
But more importantly, Iwobi, Balogun and Troost-Ekong have sealed their first team places in the team, which has largely encouraged several England-based players to also want to consider a change of mind having represented England at junior levels.
The Eagles were based in Barnet during the international break, drawing 1-1 with Senegal before their next friendly against Burkina Faso was cancelled when the Burkinabe could not secure visas.
The NFF capitalised on the disappointment of the cancelled game by inviting English-based players to train with the Eagles, and also introduce them to the squad and the staff, as they hope to strengthen their squad ahead of the 2019 AFCON and 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

OLA AINA (CHELSEA)
Ola Aina trained with the Eagles in Barnet and has now decided that his international future lies with them. He is expected to be in the Nigeria squad for their next competitive game, a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, at home to South Africa on June 9.
Amongst the players that trained with the Eagles, Aina is the most famous name, the 20-year-old right-back having made five senior appearances for Chelsea this season. Aina, who was born in south London, has represented England at U-16, U-17, U-18, U-19 and U-20 levels.
Aina signed for Chelsea as an U-11 and made his youth team debut as a schoolboy in the 2012/13 season and went on to start in both legs of the semi-final and final of the FA Youth Cup.
On October 15, 2016, Aina made his Premier League debut in a 3–0 victory over champions Leicester City, replacing Victor Moses, who also dumped England for Nigeria, in the 82nd minute.
He’s won two UEFA Youth Leagues, Barclays U21 Premier League (2013/14) and the FA Youth Cup (2013/14, 2014/15).

EBERECHI EZE (QPR)
The Queens Park Rangers 18-year-old, who signed his first professional deal in January and made his debut this season, also trained with the Nigeria squad. He is expected to make a final decision soon and he is thought to be strongly leaning towards choosing Nigeria.

CHUBA AKPOM (BRIGHTON)
The Arsenal striker, who is on loan at Brighton & Hove Albion, was with the Nigeria squad as well, and featured for the Eagles in a friendly played behind closed doors last Tuesday and thereafter posed  for a photograph with Amaju Pinnick, NFF boss, at the Hive Stadium.
Getting Akpom may be relatively easy for the NFF, having grabbed Iwobi, his best friend and former Arsenal youth teammate, to play for them too, two years ago.
The striker has had loans at Brentford, Coventry City, Nottingham Forest (loan) and Hull City (loan) and has represented England at all youth levels.
Akpom, whose parents are Nigerians, will likely be in the Eagles squad for their AFCON qualifier against South Africa in June. He is set to quit Brighton in the summer.

FRED ONYEDINMA (MILLWALL)
Watford target Onyedinma was not part of the Nigeria training camp having been on duty for Millwall in their 1-0 defeat to Swindon Town during the period. But the 20-year-old winger, who was born in Lagos and moved to east London when he was three, is thought to be close to committing his future to Nigeria too.
Onyedinma has been one of Millwall’s best attacking players this season and has already made almost 100 Football League appearances. Aside Watford, QPR, whose boss Ian Holloway gave Onyedinma his Millwall debut, and Hull are also keen on the exciting prospect.

DOMINIC IORFA (WOLVERHAMPTON)
Wolverhampton Wanderers manager, Paul Lambert has reportedly refused to pick talented defender, Dominic Iorfa, for recent fixtures because the boy met with Gernot Rohr, the Nigeria manager, recently.
The lad’s father, Dominic Iorfa (Snr), an ex-international, was recently quoted on the social media saying his 21-year-old son was being made to pay the price for holding discussions with Rohr.
“You know Rohr came to Wolves recently and met with my son and Carl Ikeme. Since he learnt that my boy wants to play for Nigeria, he has been benching him. He believes there is no need developing him for Nigeria,” Iorfa said.
Iorfa has featured for England at junior levels but his father insists his international future belongs to Nigeria once the 6ft defender clocks 23.

JOSH MAJA (SUNDERLAND)
NFF officials are confident they have secured the future of Maja, the 18-year-old Sunderland forward, after he trained with the Eagles on Monday.
The attacking midfielder, who made his debut at QPR in the League Cup, was born in Lewisham but revealed in February he was eligible to play for Nigeria.
“I am originally from London but my family is from Nigeria,” he revealed. “I grew up with my three brothers and my mom and sister.”
The teenager joined Sunderland’s academy in 2015, having already had spells with Fulham, Crystal Palace and Manchester City. He impressed in pre-season, when he was taken under the wing of Jermain Defoe, his favourite Black Cats player.

NATHANIEL OSENI (MANCHESTER CITY)
A confident and powerful centre-back, Oseni has represented Nigeria at youth level but is also eligible to play for England.
A strong, tall and confident defender with good technique, the Londoner started life as a midfielder, which may explain his strength and composure on the ball. The youngster is adept at stepping out of defence to start a move or cut out the opposition pass, as well as excelling in one on one situations.
Since signing on as a first year scholar for City in July 2013, Oseni has been a reliable presence in the centre of defence alongside a number of different partners.
Last year, he joined Swedish side Prespa Birlik on a season-long loan alongside another England-born player of Nigerian descent midfielder Jermaine Udumaga from Brentford.

 JOE ARIBO
The highly-rated 20-year-old Charlton Athletic midfielder signed from Staines Town in 2015 and has been making waves at the club, to the point he has been ironically compared with Tottenham sensation Dele Alli, who has a Nigerian father but pledged allegiance to England.
Aribo has also been described by Addicks boss Karl Robinson, as “a young Patrick Vieira with his leggy range.”
Born in Camberwell, London, to Nigerian parents, Aribo has always insisted that he is open to a Nigeria call up and now that he has met with the national team, the youngster would probably be flying in Nigerian colours soonest.

N4.7bn fraud: How Ladoja sent £600,000 to daughter in London says Witness

The trial of a former Governor of Oyo State, Chief Rashidi Ladoja, for an alleged N4.7bn fraud continued on Friday with the prosecution witness narrating to the court how the ex-governor sent £600,000 to his daughter, Bimpe, in London sometime in 2007.
The prosecution witness, Mr. Adewale Atanda, who was then Senior Special Executive Assistant to Ladoja, told the court that the money was part of a sum of N634m, which some stockbrokers contributed to Ladoja’s impeachment expenses.
According to him, the ex-governor had earlier instructed the sale of some shares belonging to Oyo State Government to the said stockbrokers who later contributed N634m to his impeachment expenses.
The N634m, Atanda said, was part of the commission and profit realised by the stockbrokers.
The witness said the N634m was delivered to him by the stockbrokers, adding that he had to first remove about N180m, which he had earlier borrowed and spent on Ladoja’s instructions during the heat of the impeachment saga.
Part of the N180m, he said, was the N80m he obtained from Wema Bank Plc, which Ladoja used to purchase 22 vehicles for Oyo State lawmakers to prevent his impeachment.
Another was a loan of N80m, which he (Atanda) obtained from Lagoon Savings and Loans for the purpose of buying Ladoja a property known as Quarters 361, which the Oyo State Government put up for sale.
Another was N13.8m which Ladoja used to buy two Land Cruiser vehicles for the state security personnel for his protection.
Atanda said having deducted the N180m which he borrowed on Ladoja’s behalf, he distributed the balance of the N634m according to Ladoja’s instructions.
Among the beneficiaries of the money, he said, was Bimpe, to whom he delivered £600,000 in £50 bills in London sometime in 2007.
He said Ladoja’s wife, Yinka, also got on different occasions sums of N20m, N19.5m and $13,000.
Among the beneficiaries, Atanda said, were lawyers including “Akintola and Olujinmi” who the witness said represented Ladoja in court.
Asked by the prosecutor, Oluwafemi Olabisi, under what circumstances the sum of £600,000 was paid to Bimpe Ladoja, Atanda said, “His Excellency wanted me to pay the money into his account but I had difficulty doing it. I told him and he said he would ask his daughter to contact me. She did and I gave her the money.
“The money was mostly in £50 notes; I put it in small suitcases and handed the money over to her in London. I think it was in 2007.”
Atanda added that the N20m he gave to Yinka Ladoja was probably what she had lent Ladoja during the impeachment heat.
Atanda said, “On another occasion, they were conducting local government elections in the state. So, on the eve of the election, I think money was required to be distributed to all the local governments. I was in Lagos, she (Yinka) called me and said His Excellency said she should collect N19.5m.
“Then there was a time she was travelling and I was told to send $13,000 into her account,” Atanda added.
However, under cross-examination by Ladoja’s lawyer, Bolaji Onilenla, Atanda said neither Bimpe nor Ladoja gave him anything to acknowledge the payment of the £600,000 to Bimpe.
Further proceedings were adjourned till April 12 and 13, 2017.
The EFCC is prosecuting Ladoja alongside a former Oyo State Commissioner for Finance, Waheed Akanbi.
The duo were arraigned on eight counts of money laundering on December 14, 2016 before Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court in Lagos.
The duo were accused of conspiring among themselves to siphon N4.7bn from the coffers of the state and launder same.
In one instance, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, who is prosecuting them, accused them of converting a sum of N1,932,940,032.48 belonging to Oyo State to their personal own, using a Guaranty Trust Bank account of a company, Heritage Apartments Limited.
The EFCC claimed that they retained the money sometime in 2007, despite their knowledge that it was proceeds of a criminal conduct.
In another instance, Ladoja was accused of removing a sum of £600,000 from the state coffers in 2007 and sending it to Bimpe Ladoja, who was at the time in London.
The ex-governor was also accused of converting a sum of N42m belonging to the state to his own and subsequently using it to purchase an armoured Land Cruiser SUV.
He was also accused of converting a sum of N728, 600,000 and another N77, 850,000 at separate times in 2007 to his own.
The EFCC claimed that Ladoja transferred the N77, 850,000 to one Bistrum Investments, which he nominated to help him purchase a property named Quarter 361, Ibadan, Oyo State.
The EFCC told the court that Ladoja and Akanbi acted contrary to sections 17(a) and18 (1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004 and were liable to be punished under sections 14(1), 16(a) (b) and 18(2) of the same Act.
The defendants pleaded not guilty.

Delta monarch shot by gunmen dies in hospital

The traditional ruler of Irri Kingdom in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State, HRM, Engr. Michael Oviese, who was allegedly shot by suspected hired assassins two weeks ago, is dead.
Reliable sources in the area told Southern City New that the monarch who was shot around his lower abdomen died on Tuesday in an undisclosed hospital where he had been receiving treatment.
The monarch was attacked by gunmen numbering five at a building along a street near St Michaels College, Oleh, by hoodlums who attempted to dispossess him of his car, when he drove himself to visit a close ally in the area.
In the midst of the scuffle, the gunmen shot him on his stomach and fled the scene.
It was gathered that the demise of the monarch was being kept from public knowledge for traditional reasons as palace chiefs continue to keep mum over the incident.
“The people of Irri Kingdom are mourning. Our traditional ruler is dead. He died of gun shots injuries when he was attacked by suspected hired assassins. Because of traditional rites, his death has not been officially announced.
“Only members of the immediate family are aware of the sad development. He died at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) where he had been receiving treatment. His death would be formally announced by the palace in line with the tradition of Irri Kingdom”, the source added.
A police source at the Oleh Divisional Police Station confirmed the incident but added that it was only the palace that can announce his death.
When contacted, the spokesman for the Delta State Police Command, DSP Andrew Aniamaka said he could not immediately confirm the traditional ruler’s death as the command had not been briefed.

Confusion over corpse found under high tension cables in Rivers

There was confusion at Agip Junction in Port Harcourt on Thursday when residents of the area suddenly woke up to see a lifeless body of a middle-aged woman.
The body of the woman was directly under a high tension cable, raising suspicions that she could have been electrocuted.

While some residents of the area contemplated that the woman might have been dropped by the roadside by some ritual killers, others insisted that she was a witch in form of a bird.
It was gathered that a bird had hit an electric cable and fell on the ground, by the side of an electric pole before purportedly turning into a dead person.
The incident had caused a gridlock on the ever busy Agip Junction as students, workers, artisans and motorists streamed to where the body of the woman was lying.
It was learnt that the incident, which occurred at about 5.30am, began to attract a huge crowd that spat on the lifeless body of the woman.
The woman, who was wearing a big chain suspected to be charm around her neck, was half nude when she met her death.
A teenager, who simply identified himself as Okorie from Imo State, told Southern City News that he and a student saw it when the bird hit an electric cable and fell on the ground.
According to Okorie, “I was going to the market early in the morning. As I was moving along the road with one school boy (student), we saw a bird that was flying and hit the pole and fell on the ground.
“As it fell on the ground, the school boy (student) rushed immediately to catch the bird. As he got there, the bird turned into a human being. He (student) ran away. I stay around this place (Agip Junction).”
Another resident of the area, who identified herself as Onyinyechi Nwachukwu, told our correspondent that the bird immediately turned into a woman after it was electrocuted.
“She was a witch, who was in the form of bird before it was electrocuted. The crowd gathered immediately a young man who was going to the market raised an alarm,” Nwachukwu stressed.
Another resident of the area said, “The woman could be a victim of ritual killers. But her body is lean and that is why some people are saying that she must have been electrocuted. But there is no naked wire on the ground here.”
Another report had it that the woman was beaten to death after she transformed from a bird to a woman.
However, a team of policemen drove to the place and dispersed the crowd in order to reduce the traffic jam that lasted for six hours.

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