Mr John Shittu, the former agent/manager of Nigerian international, Mikel Obi has demanded an apology from former Super Eagles coach, Samson Siasia over his recent claim that he was offered €50,000 by Shittu in exchange for the inclusion of John Obi Mikel in the Nigeria U23 squad for the 2008 Olympic Games.
Siasia has said on an Elegbete TV Sports interview that, “Mikel wasn’t a starter at Chelsea then, he was on the bench. 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 in Chelsea.
“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.”
however, in a letter written by his lawyers, Godwin Nick Inyang, Shittu denied the accusation.
He also demanded a retraction and payment in damages from Siasia within 14 days of receipt of this letter, with a threat to commence legal proceedings without further recourse if Siasia failed to meet the condition.
The letter reads:
GODWIN DICK INYANG & CO
LEGAL PRACTITIONERSAND CONSULTANTS
NO. 10, OLABISI OSHO STREET
BESIDE DEEPER LIFE BIBLE CHURCH, SOLUYI,GBAGADA, LAGOS
TEL: 08034012126, 09093933004
E-mail:godwindickinyangco@gmail.com
Mr.Mr Samson Siasia
RE: DEMAND FOR RETRACTION AND APOLOGY FOR DEFAMATORY STATEMENTS MADE AGAINST MR. JOHN SHITTU
We are Solicitors to Mr. John Shittu, a respected FIFA-licensed football intermediary and agent of international standing, and we write to you on his instructions.
Our client’s attention has been drawn to your recent public statement, as reported by multiple media outlets, including Sahara Reporters and Soccernet.ng wherein you alleged that Mr. Shittu offered you the sum of €50,000 in exchange for the inclusion of John Obi Mikel in the Nigeria U23 squad for the 2008 Olympic Games. The said publication has since gained wide traction both locally and internationally.
Our client emphatically denies ever making such an offer to you or anyone else. Your statement is false, malicious, and grossly defamatory. It was calculated to disparage and lower our client in the estimation of his colleagues, clients, and the public, particularly in the tightly regulated world of professional sports management.
The said allegation, now widely published, imputes bribery, unethical conduct, and corruption on the part of our client and amounts to a grave attack on his character and professional integrity, exposing him to ridicule, contempt, and reputational harm in the eyes of the public and sporting authorities.
We are instructed to demand, and we hereby do demand, the following:
- A full and unequivocal retraction of the defamatory statement, to be published:
On Sahara Reporters, Soccernet.ng and all other platforms that carried your original statement;
In at least two national newspapers with wide circulation (including but not limited to The Punch and This Day); - A formal written apology addressed to our client and published on the same platforms mentioned above;
- An undertaking not to further publish or cause to be published any similar or related defamatory statements against our client;
- The payment of the sum of ₦250,000,000.00 (Two Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) as damages for defamation, including reputational injury and consequential losses.
TAKE NOTICE that if we do not receive your full compliance with the above demands within Fourteen (14) days of receipt of this letter, we have our client’s firm instructions to commence legal proceedings against you without further recourse. Such proceedings shall include a claim for aggravated damages, injunction, costs, and any other reliefs the court may deem just and necessary.
This letter serves as a formal notice and final opportunity to resolve this matter amicably.
Yours faithfully,
For: Godwin Dick Inyang & Co.
Godwin Dick Inyang Esq.
(Solicitor)
