Etebo Distances Self From Pinnick-EFCC Saga

Super Eagles midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo has dissociated himself from widespread rumours that he wrote a petition against outgoing Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Amaju Pinnick.

Reports had earlier claimed that the new Stoke City signing petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) demanding for the monies owed him and other players, including Super Eagles goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi, by Warri Wolves under the leadership of Pinnick.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) 1st Vice-President has been a subject of scrutiny from the EFCC in recent times.

In his words, Etebo said: “My attention was drawn to a newspaper report that myself and Daniel Akpeyi signed a petition against Warri Wolves.”

“My picture was even used in the story, which is totally false and a calculated attempt to drag my name into something I know nothing about.

“Since I left Warri Wolves, I have never complained about money to anyone, neither did I sign any petition.

“This story is meant to create distractions and confusion.

“I don’t want anyone to use my name to create confusion. I want to concentrate on my career.

“I think they just want to use my name and Akpeyi to score a point, but it is not fair.” He concluded.

While speaking on the issue to Guardian yesterday, Warri Wolves chairman Moses Etu confirmed that some players are being owed by the club.

He said: “I don’t really know how the newspaper came about such story, but I can confirm that we just received a letter from Etebo dissociating himself from the petition to EFCC.”

Etu then revealed that the monies were owed before the present administration of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa came into office in 2015 ‘but the amount is not up to the N300 million being quoted in the report.’”

Oghenekaro Etebo was one of the standout performers for the Super Eagles as the team crashed out in the group stage of the just concluded FIFA World Cup tournament in Russia.

He started all three Group D games at the tournament.