PHCN Admits To Fire That Razed OKUNOWO's Mansion But Adamant On Claims

More than 7 weeks now that fire from Power Holding Company of Nigeria’s office at Capital Building, Ring-road Ibadan gutted and razed down the multi-million naira duplex of ex-Super Eagles player, Gbenga Okunowo, PHCN seems to be adamant on the arson.

The incident that occurred on 22nd July 2012 has rendered the former Barcelona defender homeless which forced him to be staying in hotels or residing with friend.

Counsels to Okunowo, Rotimi Alli and Ibadan based popular legal practitioner, Jibril Mohammed who is also the lawyer to the late Rashidi Yekini have disclosed to newsmen in Ibadan that officials of PHCN had admitted that the fire actually emanated from their compound before jumping into Okunowo’s duplex who was their next door neighbor.

Mohammed also hinted that they have made all necessary efforts to get adequate compensations for Okunowo but PHCN that is responsible for the arson seems not to be showing good concerns over the matter.

Okunowo while speaking with the sporting press at the Obafemi Awolowo training ground of All-stars FC, the team that he is training with to keep fit lamented the hardship he’s presently going through after fire had destroyed virtually all he had labored for in his entire career.

“I’m only going to beg the PHCN to be prompt with whatever they want to do on the incidence, as words cannot quantify the hardship I’m going through since Sunday July 22 the day the ugly incident happened.

“Since then I have been spending the little recourses I have on hotel accommodations or I manage to stay in friends’ house which is highly embarrassing and agonizing, all I have worked for has been lost to the fire incidence,” Okunowo lamented.

Also speaking in the same vein, Dimeji Lawal who is coordinating All-stars FC where Okunowo trained inside former Liberty Stadium Ibadan was dejected over the plight of the ex-football star, saying “I’m sad and not happy with the system we operate here in Nigeria, especially people running our sports, do you believe that nobody has come out to assist Gbenga Okunowo since fire burned down his properties, not even the NFF”.

Akanbi Agiri