A shockwave rolled through Nigeria’s football community on Monday, September 22, when Victor Ezeji, former Super Eagles forward and league legend, was arrested in Port Harcourt by Rivers State’s SCID. The arrest signals a heavy fall from grace for a man once held in high esteem across Nigeria’s domestic game.
Ezeji now sits in police custody, accused of being involved in a sprawling fraud connected to the issuance of bounced cheques. The case centers on an alleged transaction in July 2025: Ezeji and his wife, Celestina Onyemaeche Ezeji, are said to have purchased 60,000 litres of diesel from businessman Dagogo Emmanuel, issuing cheques totaling ₦39.8 million (nearly ₦40 million) which later failed to clear. More shockingly, Mrs. Ezeji is currently unaccounted for, and authorities have launched an active manhunt.
Many who once cheered for Ezeji on the field now watch in disbelief. The 44‑year-old striker enjoyed a storied career starring for Enyimba, lifting CAF Champions League titles, and earning a reputation as one of the NPFL’s most dependable finishers. But today, those achievements are cast in a tough light.
Sources confirm that while Ezeji admitted signing the cheques during interrogation, he insists he was not personally involved in the commercial transaction. He claims Mrs. Ezeji oversaw the business deal and effectively used his name. According to investigators, however, evidence suggests the couple may have gone into hiding prior to Ezeji’s arrest.
Ezeji’s brother, Chuks Ezeji, offered staunch defense in media interviews, saying: “Victor was dragged into this. He is not directly involved — she (Celestina) handled the deal using his name.” Meanwhile, law enforcement sources refuse to back down, stating that the portfolio of evidence surveillance, banking trails, and cheque records will speak for itself.
In the eyes of many football fans, the allegations cut deeper than financial misstep. They pose a question about reputation, trust, and the legacy of players who once stood as beacons of professionalism. If the scandal is proven, it would mark one of the most high-profile falls from grace in modern Nigerian football history.
The case is not just a scandal; it’s still a developing legal saga. No court has yet passed judgment, and Ezeji’s legal team has signaled plans to fight the charges vigorously. Meanwhile, efforts continue to track down Mrs. Ezeji, whose silence only intensifies speculation.
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