Godwin Okpara: I didn’t rape the nanny

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.

“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.

Follow me @CalvinEmeka