For allegedly battering his wife, Linda Oladoyinbo Opara, a former Nigeria Super Eagles Football Star, Godwin Okpara was
on Thursday arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrates Court, Lagos.
The 43-year old ex-footballer was arraigned before Magistrates B.O Osunsanmi on a count charge bothering on assault and wife battery.
A video purportedly showing the former Eagles star publicly beating his wife went viral earlier in the year.
According to the prosecutor, Asp S. Imhonwa, the defendant , sometimes in August, 2016 at their residence at No 6,
8 Oduduwa street, GRA Ikeja Lagos, unlawfully assaulted his wife of 25-years by flogging her with sticks and other dangerous weapons.
Opara was said to have also on different occasions battered his wife , causing her body injury.
The prosecutor, further informed the court that the offenses committed by the ex-super Eagle player is contrary to Sec. 173 of the criminal law of Lagos state 2015.
He however pleaded not guilty to the one count charge preferred against him by the state.
The defendant’s counsel, Malaki Odo urged the court to grant the accused bail, stating that he is a responsible citizen of Nigeria.
“The defendant is an ex-Super Eagle player who has served the country honorably. We urge the court to grant him bail on liberal terms.
“We shall prove our case during trial,” Obo said.
The presiding Magistrate, Mrs. B.O Osunsanmi in her ruling granted the former Super Eagle player bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties.
She also ruled that the sureties must also be workers of reputable organizations.
The matter was however adjourned till January 1, 2018.
It will be recalled that sometimes in August 2005, Okpara was arrested by French police on charges of raping his 13-year-old adopted daughter.
He was found guilty and imprisoned in June 2007 for 10 years.