Former Nigeria footballer Jonathan Akpoborie has blamed UNICEF for the scandal that has tainted his image, ruined his Maritime business and the eventual fallout with his then German Bundesliga club, Wolfsburg.
Akpoborie, made the revelation on Brila FM’s “No holds barred show” anchored by ex Super Eagles defender Ifeanyi Udeze on Monday.
It would be recalled that Akpoborie, ventured into the maritime industry during his playing days and together with his family, ran a shipping agency with two Nigerian-registered ships named MV Etireno and Xmas Day.
Jonathan Akpoborie, bought both ship from Denmark in 1998 and each of them worth more than $500,000 according to reports.
However things took a dramatic turn in April 2001 when the United Nations’ children’s agency said Akpoborie’s MV Etireno was used to move up to 250 child slaves from Benin to Gabon, an accusation the former goal poacher strongly denies till date.
Akpoborie claimed Unicef jumped on a false reports from mischievous people without making proper investigations and that was how his troubles began.
“When I got to Stuggart I got two ships a cargo and passenger ship. They ply Lome, Cotonou and Libreville. At one point we used to convey refugees for UN from Monrovia. One of the vessels is about 500 tonage and we’ll convey 700 passengers or 40-50 trucks, 40ft containers. So, the sister vessel (MV Etireno) in Monrovia caught the attention of the locals because it flew a Nigerian flag.
“Those people were bent on spreading rumors about the vessel and UNICEF jumped on the rumor and told BBC that a vessel from Cotonou that was carrying 250 children who would be sold to slavery and issued a search alert,” Akpoborie said on the show.
“At the time the vessel was in Libreville, government officials and UNICEF representatives inspected the vessel in Libreville and testified to finding nothing.
” The authorities in Gabon then instructed that the vessel returned to Cotonou; with all that was on board. When I got in touch with the crew I was told they’ll get to Douala where they’ll buy diesel and food.
“The Police in Douala inspected the vessel and found only the passengers who were on board.
“Heading towards to Cotonou, UNICEF led many to believe kids were thrown overboard and that lie inflamed many as well as exacerbated the initial rumor.
“During this time an investigative crew came to Nigeria and discovered I owned the vessel.
“That’s when the story was published in Europe that my vessel was transporting 250 kids who would be sold into slavery. By he time the vessel got to Cotonou, I was in Wolfsburg watching live on CNN at 2am.
“The first question the CNN news crew asked the UNICEF official was, the whereabouts of the 250 kids reportedly being transported on the vessel.
“Her response was that they had mistaken the vessel for another one. That’s what UNICEF said. So, I’m concluding they just spread the lie to tarnish my business and image.” He told Brila FM.
Meanwhile, Akpoborie was suspended indefinitely and was later released by his then German club VfL Wolfsburg because of the problem.
Wolfsburg decided to sack the player who was their top scorer at the time in order to protect their relationship with sponsor Volkswagen AG.
“Initially my club stood by me. But the pressure from UNICEF was too much and they forced the club into a decision. When I was at Wolfsburg I made donations to UNICEF monthly.
“I was victimized and I was bewildered to be honest. The politics behind football is incredibly massive and potentially dangerous.
“The club’s main sponsor at the time was Wolfswagen and they had a partnership with UNICEF. It was the reason the club cut me loose, but they paid my full entitlement.
” I went back to the club and when I entered the arena the crowd cheered and the chants of my name was massive I couldn’t hold back my tears because I knew all I worked for had been destroyed with the pen of mischief makers,” He said.
Akpoborie was later cleared of of any wrong doing, but it was too late as his ship was released into the sea by the Beninoise government and was later vandalized by scavengers.
After proving his innocence, the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court ordered the Beninoise government to pay compensation to the former player, but they are yet to comply.
“As I speak the Beninoise government did not release my vessel, but when they eventually did, they released it into the sea. It drifted into a beach but eventually was vandalized by scavengers.
” I took them to the Benin Republic court, I went to the Court of Appeal and Supreme court and won the case.
“The final judgement was given in 2016. But the government failed to comply with the judgement and my damages have not been paid because I’m a Nigerian.
“They vandalized the vessel because it carried the Nigerian flag,” He concluded.
Akpoborie made 13 appearances for Super Eagles of Nigeria and scored 4 goals.
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