Ex-Super Eagles Defender, Godwin Okpara Charged For Battering Wife
CYRIACUS IZUEKWE
The police have arrested former Super Eagles and Ex- International footballer Mr. Godwin Okpara for allegedly assaulting his estranged wife, Linda in his home in Lagos.
The assault took place at their palatial home located at Oduduwa Street in the G.R.A. area of Ikeja where they resided before their marriage crashed.
The 44-year retired footballer was arraigned before Ikeja Magistrates court after the wife alleged that he used a stick and other dangerous weapons to flog her and injured her in the process.
P.M.EXPRESS scooped that the couple had never known peace for several years now over irreconcilable differences based on mistrust despite the fact that they had children. It was learnt that both the family members, relations and friends have tried to intervene to no avail before the incident happened.
On the day the incident happened, police sources said that Okpara attacked, flogged Linda and injured her.
The matter was reported to the police at Ikeja before it was transferred to Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, Lagos where the matter was investigated and Okpara was found culpable.
He was charged before the court for assault on Linda.
He pleaded not guilty.
The presiding Magistrate, Mrs. B.O. Osunsanmi admitted Okpara on bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety in like sum.
He was to be remanded in prison custody pending when he will perfect his bail condition.
The matter was adjourned till 29 January, 2018.
The former Paris Saint-Germain defender who was said to have been deported to Nigeria after his release from prison by the French authorities, has been living quietly before this case with Linda his estranged wife.
Godwin Okpara was one of the Golden Eaglets that represented Nigeria in Scotland in 1989 at the FIFA U-17 World Cup. Okpara went on to play for Nigeria at every level after playing at the France ’98 world Cup and captaining the Sydney Olympics squad.