The fight over the ownership of Flying Eagles player Cletus Simon between FC Obaje and Mavlon FC is heating up, NaijNaira can report.
According to All Nigeria Soccer, Gabriel Obaje, owner of FC Obaje, was held in custody for three days in what his lawyers described as an intimidation tactic.
Samuel Ogbah, a leading lawyer from Activity Chambers, explained that the arrest came after FC Obaje successfully proved their ownership rights to the player.
“FC Obaje came to us when their player suddenly appeared at Mavlon FC without proper clearance or permission,” Ogbah told allnigeriasoccer.com.
He explained that FC Obaje discovered Simon in 2018, took him to Kaduna, provided a home for him and his siblings, and enrolled him in school.
Ogbah said Simon later left on the pretext of visiting family and reappeared at Mavlon FC several months later.
Attempts by FC Obaje to contact Mavlon FC were reportedly blocked by the club’s scouts and coaches, Ogbah added.
The NFF’s Players Status Department later ruled in FC Obaje’s favor and granted them training compensation for the years spent developing Simon.
“The Court of Arbitration for Sport is the only body that can overturn this decision, and we are confident of winning there too,” Ogbah said.
Ogbah dismissed claims that FC Obaje forged the parental consent document, calling them a “desperate attempt to weaken our client’s rightful position.”
He said Obaje personally explained the document’s contents to Simon’s father, who is unable to read, and got his full agreement.
The lawyer noted that the only mistake was the absence of an illiterate jurat, which he stressed does not cancel the consent.
Ogbah confirmed that Simon admitted at the police station that FC Obaje was responsible for his training.
He assured that FC Obaje’s legal team will follow the case to the end and ensure the club gets the compensation it deserves.
Article updated 3 months ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
