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Transfer Saga: How Mikel Obi Refused to compensate me After I Linked Him Worth $4m Deal In Kuwait SC – Okafor

Published

4 years ago

September 20, 2021

What a cruel fate Michael Okafor is going through in the hands of his namesake, Mikel John Obi, as he has alleged that the former Super Eagles captain refused to compensate him after linking the player to Kuwait SC in a mouthwatering contract deal for two years.

Okafor said that he played an active role in linking the former Chelsea midfielder to Kuwait SC in a deal worth $4million dollars.

Sadly, he was sidelined and Mikel has refused to compensate after he signed the 2 – year contract with Kuwait SC in June.

“I linked Mikel John Obi to the deal that made him sign for Kuwait SC during the summer transfer season in June. Myself and partner, (Bader Almeraabi), who is based in Kuwait linked Mikel to the club for the deal,” Michael Okafor said.

“We had a conference call with Mikel and I told him everything, including the monetary figure in the deal.

“After we did the conference call, which involved John Obi Mikel, Abdullah Al-hamdan, the club agent of Kuwait SC, my partner, Bader and myself, the club went behind to contact Mikel John Obi and continued negotiation with him.

“When I contacted Mikel, he told me he will keep me posted as the event unfold, that I should not worry.

“Painfully for me, Mikel, the Nigerian Youth Ambassador never kept his promises, he never kept me posted, he never told me anything about the deal.

“He went behind me to seal the deal and I have been trying to talk to him for us to settle amicably. But, he has refused to listen to me. All my messages to him were only read by him without reply. He reads all of them but no reply.

“I brought such a lucrative offer in Kuwait SC at the age of 34 years and he is not willing to compensate me. I can’t imagine that Mikel will do this to me, a brother who brought such a lucrative deal to him. A Nigerian youth ambassador. His behaviour is very shocking.

“I insisted that I should be paid compensated. At least I should get a commission from the deal. Mikel John Obi told me is that I should go to Abdullah ( who he normally calls Abdul) to get my commission.

“He informed me that he will not give me my commission and that I should go to Abdullah to get it.

“I then asked him – Why not ask yourself how did Abdullah get your number? And you now directed me to contact Abdullah for my commission, forgetting that I connected you to him.

“Mikel simply exhibited a greedy nature which I never suspected. This is very wicked as he insisted that I should go to Abdullah, who is the club agent of Kuwait SC to get my commission.

“Imagine a lucrative deal at the age of 34 years for a player like Mikel getting him a deal that is worth four million US dollars for two years is enough for him to gladly compensate me.

“It is not a child’s play, it’s enough for him to compensate me without stress. The deal also came with the latest BMW 2022 model edition, yet he refused to be kind to me,” Okafor said sadly.

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Tax Reform Bills: Extricating Nigeria From Economic Cesspit

Published

6 days ago

April 8, 2025

The Gleamer

By Arabinrin Aderonke Atoyebi

On March 13, 2025, the House of Representatives passed the Tax Reform Bills. The Senate is expected to debate the bills after its current recess, resuming plenary on April 29, 2025. Once the Senate passes them, they will be sent to the President for assent. This is the final stretch.

What comes to mind when you hear the word reform? What do you think of when you hear Tax Reform Bill? After all this time, many Nigerians now have a clearer understanding of what is happening. But when you think of it, who do you envision? There is no other person than the man of the people: Dr. Zacch Adedeji, Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

After taking office in May 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu inherited a situation that required urgent action. Our tax system had been plagued by inefficiencies, low compliance rates, and inadequate coverage. The country also faced challenges like the need for more transparency, improved coordination between federal and state tax authorities, and the lack of a clear, modernized tax framework to support long-term economic growth.

President Tinubu was fully aware of these shortcomings before and after assuming office. The one thing he could do was put a capable man in charge: the Tax Boss. The government made tax reform a priority in its broader economic agenda, and Dr. Zacch has demonstrated commitment in ensuring these reforms are efficiently implemented.

The Tax Boss knew that no matter how brilliant the reform looked on paper, it had to work in practice. Under his leadership, FIRS accelerated internal reforms, digitized processes, automated over 80 percent of returns processing, and integrated new modules into the TaxProMax system to make compliance easier and smarter. This is what Nigerians needed: we are not waiting for change; we are making it happen.

By the end of 2024, four draft bills emerged: the Nigeria Revenue Service Bill, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Taxation (Consolidation) Bill, and the Joint Tax Board Bill. Each was designed to streamline laws, harmonize tax administration, and expand the tax base without overburdening taxpayers. The National Assembly opened its doors to scrutiny with public hearings, tough questions, governors’ perspectives, and expert feedback. Some proposals were revised, such as the decision to retain the current VAT rate.

But let’s not forget how we got here. It took presidential will, expert input, and above all, Dr. Zacch, the Tax Boss himself. The Tax Boss has not only championed this process; he has owned it with clarity, purpose, and results. With continued execution and the right structures in place, the tax reforms will build a stronger system for everyone, from government to everyday Nigerians.

Tax Reform Bill is not just another trend. It’s the change we have been asking for. Most importantly, it is here to stay.

Arabinrin Aderonke Atoyebi is the technical assistant on broadcast media to the executive chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service

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