Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen is taking legal action against a Turkish journalist who accused him of assault.
A hearing is scheduled to commence today, 27th January.
The incident occurred two weeks ago following Galatasaray’s 3-3 draw against Dynamo Kyiv. Turkish journalist Tolga Bozduman alleged that Osimhen assaulted him while attempting to take photographs of the striker at an African restaurant. Osimhen vehemently denied these accusations.
“I didn’t hit the journalists; they are lying,” Osimhen stated in a video, as reported by Pesindeyiz Galatasaray. “Why are you flashing your face? You have to ask permission for an interview. I told them they had to delete my photos. If I wanted to hit them, I would have.”
In a separate video circulating online, Osimhen further emphasised his innocence, describing the incident as an orchestrated agenda.
He stated: “I need to clarify some situation[Sic]. I went to eat with my friends. I was coming back to go into my van, and these guys just popped out from nowhere. Camera on my face, and I was shocked. Obviously, you guys have seen the video on the internet. I was like… this, I was shocked. And I was asking them, ‘What’s the problem? Why you[Sic] pop on the camera in front of my face?’ And uh, they said they are paparazzi. Okay, what do you want?
“They didn’t say anything. They just popped the camera on my face and uh, there was a guy taking pictures, and then my friends went to meet them and said, ‘You cannot do like that. If you’re a professional, you have to come. If you want[Sic] to ask for an interview.’
“I never punched this guy. Never hit him or something like that. I went to him. I was in the midst of them. And I told him, ‘You have to take the pictures down. You have to delete it. This is my picture. I have every right to tell him to take it down.’ You understand? And then… of course, it’s agenda.
“I am not new to this type of thing. You know, I knew they were, they were going to lie and lie and lie. But this is a case of violence and it came out to light, but of course, it’s not going to be an easy one.
“I don’t need to shout. But I think um, I will take the necessary step to make sure if I hit him, he’s going to get justice. If he lies, then he’s going to see the wrath of the law. I have nothing else.”
Radio host Buchi Laba confirmed that Osimhen is pursuing legal action against the journalist for defamation.
Osimhen, who has been a resounding success since joining Galatasaray last summer, has scored 16 goals and provided five assists in 21 appearances for the Turkish giants. He has been a key figure in their domestic and European campaigns.
