22nd February, 2013
Former Nigerian footballer, Daddy Augustine Okeke is in trouble in faraway Malta over an alleged trafficking in cocaine.
According to reports, Okeke, who lives in Bugibba, was arraigned before Magistrate Doreen Clarke relating to charges of possession and drug trafficking.
Okeke, 33, according to www.di-ve.com, was charged after allegedly being in possession of 960 grams of cocaine. He was arrested in 2007. Interrogations revealed that two other men were involved. He had been living in Malta for 10 years, where he played football for the Naxxar Lions and Lija Athletics. Okeke is presently a football agent representing Obinna Obiefule.
Defence Attorney Dr Joanne Vella Cuschieri made a plea for bail which was denied because of fear of contamination of evidence. He was escorted to the Corrective Facility after being arraigned by Inspector Dennis Theuma.
Meanwhile, Obiefule is leaving Hibs without making an official appearance for the team after the Nigerian striker agreed to a short-term loan move to Chinese club Herbin Yiteng FC.
The Paolites had high hopes that the arrival of a proven scorer like Obiefule would boost their title bid when they signed him from Mosta last month.
But in the last few weeks, Herbin Yiteng have stepped up their interest in the 25-year-old who reportedly included a clause in the 18-month contract he signed with Hibs allowing him to leave if he received a concrete offer from an overseas club.
Last summer, Obiefule, who set a new Premier League record in 2011-12 after scoring 34 goals for Marsaxlokk and Mosta, was on the verge of joining an Algerian club but the deal failed and the Nigerian returned to Mosta.
Former Lija defender Daddy Okeke, one of Obiefule’s advisors, played a key role in the discussions that eventually led to the Nigerian agreeing a loan move to Herbin Yiteng, who play in the second tier of Chinese football.
Two Israeli clubs, Hapoel Beer Sheva and Hapoel Ramat-Gan, were also targeting Obiefule. Both sent letters to Mosta FC seeking permission to host Obiefule for a few training sessions followed by medical tests. Another club that showed a firm interest in Obiefule were Inter Baku, of Azerbaijan.