Sam Sodje cleared of money laundering, won’t join his three brothers in jail

Former Super Eagles footballer, Sam Sodje has been cleared of money laundering and thus escaped joining his three brothers already in jail for taking charity money.

According to a report by BBC, Sam’s brothers ex-footballers Efe Sodje, 46, and Stephen Sodje, 43, and ex-rugby player Bright Sodje, 52, were found guilty and jailed for the fraud in 2017.

The fraud trial in 2017 had heard how the family set up the Sodje Sports Foundation (SSF) in 2009, ostensibly to help provide facilities in Nigeria.

Stephen was sentenced to two years and six months in prison for receiving £30,000 in charity funds.

Efe, who was “the face” of the charity, was given 18 months in jail for receiving £7,500 from the SSF and an unknown amount from a clay pigeon shooting event.

Bright was jailed for 21 months for receiving £3,000 from the charity and signing cheques to other family members totalling £18,000.

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Sam, 39, was on a separate trial which was recently concluded, as he was cleared at the Old Bailey of the alleged crime on Monday.

Sam, who played professionally for Charlton Athletic, Brentford and Leeds United during his career, was charged with four counts of taking part in a fraud in which bank accounts were used to channel money from companies around the world.

He was found not guilty of two of the charges on 14 January and cleared of the remaining two counts today.

Meanwhile, according to the report, a fifth brother of theirs, Akpo Sodje, 37, also risked jail term but have moved to Dubai and refused to return to Britain for questioning.

 

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