Former Nigerian international footballer Victor Ezeji has been taken into custody by detectives of the Rivers State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) over allegations of fraud and threats to life.
According to The Guardian, Ezeji’s arrest is linked to a disputed oil deal in which he and his wife, Celestina Onyemaeche Ezeji, allegedly issued dud cheques amounting to N39.8 million after purchasing 60,000 litres of diesel from businessman, Dagogo Emmanuel.
According to police sources, the couple had been on the run since July 2025 before operatives closed in on Victor on Monday, September 22, after weeks of surveillance and tracking.
He is currently being held at the SCID headquarters in Port Harcourt.
Investigators revealed that Ezeji admitted to signing the cheques tied to the deal but claimed he had little knowledge of the transaction itself.
He further maintained that his wife, who remains on the run, was the one directly managing the business arrangement.
“We believe there is strong evidence of fraud here. While Mr Ezeji is in custody, our efforts are ongoing to locate his wife, who is still at large,” a senior police officer familiar with the case told reporters.
Family members, however, insist the footballer is being unfairly dragged into a matter he knew little about.
His brother, Chuks Ezeji, confirmed the arrest but argued that Celestina acted independently.
“Victor has never been in the business of trading diesel. This was entirely his wife’s deal, but unfortunately, she used his name and account details,” he said.
The arrest has sparked wide public attention, given Ezeji’s reputation as one of Nigeria’s most respected domestic league players, with a career spanning over a decade in the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL).
Police authorities stressed that investigations are still ongoing, with further updates expected as the manhunt for Mrs Ezeji continues.
