Godwin Okpara: I didn’t rape the nanny
Okpara played for Nigeria at the 1998 World Cup in France
In Scotland in 1989 at the FIFA U-17 World Cup, the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria had a team that included future African Footballer of the Year Victor Ikpeba, Precious Monye, Patrick Mancha, Babajide Oguntuwase, John Agum and one Godwin Okpara.
After a group match, in which he was voted the best player, the great Pele predicted Okpara would be one of the best players in the world.
Okpara went on to play for Nigeria at every level after playing at the France ’98 world Cup and captaining the Sydney Olympics squad.
After Scotland ’89 he joined Beerschot in Belgium. He would later play for PSG and Strasbourg in the French first division before returning Liege in Belgium to finish off his career.
In 2005, after a few weeks holiday in Lagos, Nigeria Okpara returned to Paris to join his family. He was arrested on arrival at the airport.
Released and deported
Charged with rape, sex with a minor, assault, he was not granted bail and did not see freedom again until January 2013 and was promptly deported to Nigeria.
Since his release and return to Nigeria, Okpara has kept not just a low profile ─ he could have been under a rock and has not granted any interview.
However, he has broken his silence to TheCable. He is a man clearly tormented by the time spent inside and what he believes have been betrayal by those closest to him.
Okpara with Onwuka: I will still clear my name
“I swear on the lives of my children that I never had sex with her (the nanny). I rarely had interaction with her or the other women or girls that my wife used to have in the house often. I was a footballer so my life was going to training, coming back home, playing with my children.
“By the time she arrived I was living in Belgium and I used to come home to Paris on those rare times when we had not matches,” he said.
Okpara and his wife were arrested in France and charged to court.
Abandoned to fate
A former Nigerian international in a foreign land. What did the Nigerian embassy do?
“One man came to see me from the Embassy when I was first arrested before the trials began. He never returned during the trial or even offer any help at all,” he said.
How about his ex-international team mates who were in Europe, did they come to offer support?
“I think or I heard that Victor Ikpeba went to see my children while I was inside but that is about it. As far as I can recall,” he said.
No one came to the prison even.
Okpara had two trials. After the first trial he was jailed for 13 years. In this first trial, the man who had played for a football club as big as PSG and had played in an AFCON final did not have a lawyer.
Instead he used a state appointed lawyer.
“I had a lawyer who did not speak English appointed to me by the courts. I spoke to him through an interpreter he then speaks to the Judge, and then the process is repeated again till I get to hear what the Judge or my lawyer is saying. Sincerely, I am not certain matters were not lost in translation,” he told TheCable.
The case against Okpara included trafficking and assault.
“She said she had injuries. I never saw any injuries on her. Yes my wife did beat her but that was just as she used to beat her own children. As for me I never laid a finger on her. I can call my children now in France so you can speak to them and ask if I ever beat her or the children even,” he further said.
On appeal a second trial was called and his sentence was reduced from 13 years to seven.
Life in prison
How did a former international footballer survive life inside the prison?
“Many times I wanted to commit suicide. Two things stopped me: hope of seeing my children again and the fact that I would have needed to hang myself if I wanted to do it ─ if I had access to pills I would have done it. I saw many inmates do it and I understood why they had to,” Okpara explained.
Godwin left Nigeria as a teenager so he is struggling to get a grasp of the current Nigeria but what he wants above all things is to clear his name.
“I will pay any price possible to clear my name. I would love to see her and ask her why she has done this. To beg her to tell the world that I did nothing to her,” he said.
This story has been tragic in every way. A young lady has felt brutalised and traumatised. A family has been destroyed – Godwin’s wife is still in jail.
While they were both in jail, they lost their first son to cancer. The other two children are now in foster care in France while Godwin is back home a recluse in Nigeria.
“Many times in my room I break down and cry; I break my things in frustration and I wish that I had done things differently. Maybe opened my eyes more and been aware of things happening around me. My faith in God has kept me sane since this ordeal started and His Peace has been my peace,” he said.
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If you so much believed in your innocence, the almighty God will bring out the true facts someday and you will be vindicated. Take solace in the peace of The Lord as you professed, brother.
Only God knows what really transpired. But it is really good having Godwin back. Even better hearing him look ahead with hope and positivity. No one is perfect. No one has the right to condemn- though we may correct and chide. Godwin, if you were wrongly convicted, God will vindicate you. And if you were rightly convicted, arise from your fall and move with life. Your children will come back to you some day. Please, let them meet you well. Don't let them meet a broken man. Don't forget your wife too, even if she was guilty. Remember what it was like when no one visited you in prison. A fallen man has no friend. that is the painful truth. But to wallow in self pity and bitterness over that. Choose to rise above that level of lowness. Love her, pray for her, send her letters.
Remember, rise from your fallen state. There are still worlds to conquer. And lives to touch.
God bless you. Thank you for touching our lives as a nation with your mesmerizing skills. We will always remember those moments, and less of the low side.
Godwin,
The Lord will perfect that which pertains to you. Cling tightly to Him.
I'm not surprised by ur claim of innocence. I believe u re truly innocent. Dat is wat most unfortunate nigerians go tru in europe. Be strong & hope 4 d best as their is still enof reason 2 b tankful 2 God. Be inspired by d hope dat ur wife will come out of her jail term soon. Cheer up bro. I remember vividly how u caged d original ronaldo in a CL match way back & how u got rare reviews from football analysts wrld ova.
Many things could have probably been handled differently with better education/exposure,far better understanding and awareness of the situation e.g. outright rejection of a french lawyer, and use of the media.
7 years wasted and a carefully built reputation severely tarnished after, my question, which G Okpara obviously asks is 'how does he intend to clear his name'? After that, what next?
I had known Godwin since his teenage years through his mentor, Chief Adewale Teluwo, the renowned football administrator and insurance guru. Reading this interview gave me flashbacks of my various visits to the Ogbogbo camp of Ibukun Oluwa Football Club. It was then the Southampton Academy of Nigeria and produced many of Nigeria's U-17 and 21 teams then. I remember a fresh-faced Godwin whom many of us loved to call Alan Ball. I still shudder to wonder how he had to endure this torture when he was not illegal in Europe; why he could not stand for himself with all his experiences in Europe;why he could not deploy the millions he made playing professional football to fight this allegation and clear his name knowing full what record means in advanced countries. I still could not comprehend the action or inaction of his agents, manager or camp. I am not indicting Alan Ball, but we should remember, in most cases, the thoroughness of investigations in Europe. If indeed Alan Ball is innocent, he should use every avenue to fight his cause- one day he shall be vindicated. In all this, we should pause and ask for the role of the NFF in the travails of Alan Ball as well as the Nigerian embassies in Belgium and France. A nation that abandon its citizens in the hands of the wolves should never expect patriotic contributions from them. Godwin, never give up hope, it is not over until God says it is over.
hope is not lost. Am most concerned as a father what is the fate of your kids?
God is always on innocents side,,,,, you will answer ur name to the world again don't worry ur self keep praying….
We have Nigerians without a nation called NIGERIA. Scenario like this make me want to agree to South Militants' claim that Nigeria does not exist! A nation/government that does not care about what happens to her citizens anywhere has FAILED. Its Opara we hear about now. What of unknown names dying in foreign cells for no crime committed.
i believe in this man story, the european judicial system is one sided, in as far it has to do with rape and women. the court only follow the statement of the victim
To err is human but to forgive is divine, the truth is known to God. The lady i.e. nanny in question has written a book ‘ma vie a un prix’ meaning my life has a price where she disclosed her own ordeals.I will advise all parties to bury the hatchet and seek solace in our Creator. I did a writeup on the story of Godwin advising sportmen to invest wisely during their hey days because no one knows tomorrow.