'I don't deal with damaged people' – Mikel's agent responds to Siasia's N91m bribery claim

John Shittu, a FIFA-licensed football agent, has strongly denied allegations made by former Super Eagles coach Samson Siasia that he offered a €50,000 (approximately ₦91 million) bribe to secure John Mikel Obi’s place in Nigeria’s men’s football squad for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

In a recent interview with Elegbete TV, Siasia alleged that Shittu, who managed Mikel throughout much of his career, 'said he would give me €50,000 so Mikel should play.' 

Siasia explained that he turned down the alleged bribe because Mikel did not participate in the qualification matches.

"Mikel wasn’t a starter at Chelsea then, he was on the bench," Siasia said. 

"I told him we only had one game against Ghana to play – please come and help us. I said if he doesn’t come, he won’t go anywhere. But Mikel refused to come, saying he was playing in Chelsea."

Siasia added: "Going to the Olympics, Mikel wants to come and play. His agent said he would give me €50,000 so Mikel should play. 

"I said it’s not about €50,000. He didn’t play the qualifiers, so I will take out someone that qualified us and bring you in? It won’t happen. That’s why Mikel didn’t go."

Speaking to The Cable, Shittu dismissed the claims, revealing that Siasia had already reached out ‘to apologise for the comment.'

Shittu insisted: I am one of the most respected agents in the game" and made it clear, "I don’t deal with damaged people." 

He further added, "as far as I am concerned, it’s a forgotten issue."

Despite Mikel Obi’s absence, the Nigerian team managed to win a silver medal at the men’s football event of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

In 2019, FIFA found Siasia guilty of having accepted that he would receive bribes in relation to the manipulation of matches, a violation of its code of ethics. 

As a result, he was handed a life ban from all football-related activities along with a fine of 50,000 Swiss francs ($54,000). 

The sanction was later reduced to a five-year ban by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Neither Mikel Obi nor the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has commented publicly on the bribery allegation.

Wale Adejumo

Photo Credit: Facebook

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