Former Super Eagles captain, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha has finally opened up on the fraud petition against him by Friday Nwankwo Kujah to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He said; “I don’t want to join issues with Friday Kujah because I see him as ungrateful fellow. I was preparing for my retirement from active football while playing in Qatar. Friday Kujah called me one early morning on phone to suggest that he and one Israelis had a business idea. “
“He said he wants us to start a Bureau de change business. He brought the Israelis from a Mega Plaza. I asked both of them how much they would contribute for the business to commence, but they replied that they don’t have any money.”
“I would only pay them percentage based on money generated. Thereafter, he (Kujah) told me to send $300,000, which I did. He went and registered the company in his name”.
“The business was not yielding any positive result, rather, they kept asking me for more money. When I returned from Qatar, Friday Kujah couldn’t render anything in terms of profit from the business.”
“Things were going from bad to worse. They took loan from the bank, yet they couldn’t pay for the house rent, and debts were pilling up. It got to a stage the owner of the building could not take it. He took us to the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and I had to settle the debt.”
“One day, the Israelis, who was the Operations Manager, walked up to me to say that I had to give them another $1million for the business to survive.”
“I was sensing great danger ahead. When it became clear that my business with Friday Kujah was not heading any good direction, I left him and registered my company, Jay Jay Okocha Bureau de change.”
“So, in what way have I shortchanged or owe Friday Kujah money? He is going about scandalising my name, and reporting me to EFCC, but I won’t join issues with him. As I said, I won’t succumb to his cheap blackmail.”
For those who don’t know, recently, Friday Nwankwo Kujah called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to expedite action on his petition against Austin Okocha.
Kujah petitioned the EFCC, alleging fraud and breach of a contractual agreement by Okocha in 2016. He had also demanded a probe of the ex-footballer.
Kujah claimed in the petition that Okocha schemed him out of emoluments and cumulative payments due to him as a member of the board of directors in a Lagos-based bureau de change.
On November 9, 2020 Kujah served the EFCC a reminder which was signed by Chukwuemeka Israel Dinne, his counsel.
He said; “Okocha should not be too big for the EFCC to investigate and no one should be too small to lodge a petition against him, provided such petition is valid.”